8-16-2024

Good Morning All,

    Hebrews 10:24-25;” And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

    We have many ways to use the word “church.”  It can be a place as in “I am going to church.”  It can mean an activity as in “what time is church?”  It can mean an institution as in “the church supports life ministries.” 

    But these all miss the meaning that Christ uses.  When Christ speaks of the church; he sometimes refers to it as a family.  We are children of God, and we are brothers and sisters of Christ and of each other.  We are joined to each other through our Baptism into the Body of Christ. And like a family, it is good to get together with each other.  It is a time to share the joy in the family.  We should view each member of our church as our own flesh and blood. We should be excited at their joys and successes. We should commiserate and console, in their times of sorrow and struggle. We celebrate new life, new wonders, and new joys. The whole family shares in that joy.  When a member of the family is sick, we gather to offer comfort.  When a family member dies, we gather to mourn together and to give each other hope.  We gather on holidays and share meals and gifts but mostly laughter and love.

   Now you never have to go to a family holiday event; you are still in the family but look at what you miss.  You miss the love and joy, the camaraderie and fellowship, the common history and future are all missed when we stay away from our family. You miss out on the joy that family can bring. Yes, we as sinful being can struggle in our relationships, but God gives us family, both by birth and by rebirth to join us in our journey of life. “It is not good that man should be alone.” We are designed, by God, to be a people of society. We are designed to be with others. We are designed to live as a family.

   The same is true of our Christian family, the church.  It is here that we receive the pronouncement of forgiveness; it is here we join in the holy meal; it is here where we find comfort and consolation when we need it and a place to share in joy when we feel it.  It is where we encourage one another and stir up love and good works just like our verse states.  This is why regular worship attendance is valuable. It connects us to each other. In a world that seeks to disconnect you, God is connecting you to Himself, to your fellow worshipper and to those who are in need. We are to comfort those who are in pain and to be comforted when we are in pain. So, do not neglect gathering to worship; it is a gift from God to benefit us in this world.

Dear Father, we are often ungrateful children who bicker and fight with each other.  Forgive us and move us to be your holy family here on earth.  Let our love for each other point to You as the source of our love through Your grace.  This we ask in the Name of our Brother Jesus, Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret