SCRIPTURE:
Acts 20:7-12
REFLECTION:
Many churches across the UK remain closed, whilst others are holding services for a limited number of people. If you are not able to attend your church, I wonder, are you missing it?
For many of us it is the first time in our lives, or at least for many years, that we have not had the possibility of meeting together with our brothers and sisters in the family of God on a regular basis (except for illness, work or caring responsibilities). For others who were not used to ‘going to church’ until more recently, it may not have felt so unusual. In my experience, gathering regularly as we do is often more appreciated by the latter group than the former (and I am in the former group). Having been in the ‘habit’ of church-going since birth, it can become exactly that – a habit.
When Paul visited Troas (in modern-day Turkey), the believers there were eager to hear his teaching. He kept on speaking until midnight, and no doubt the third-floor room where they had gathered became hot and stuffy with so many people crammed in as well as the candles burning. One young man, Eutychus, dozed off, and fell to his death out of a window. Thankfully, God gave him his life back, and it didn’t stop Paul, who continued teaching until dawn!
Can you imagine the passion of these people for Jesus, such that they were willing to listen all day and all night to the preaching of God’s Word? And now that we are unable to meet, we can reflect and ask: Have I always sufficiently appreciated opportunities to gather – whether on Sunday, in home groups, or at other times – opportunities to open ourselves to each other and the Word of God? It is when things are taken away from us that we often appreciate them more.
What we are doing now, of course, is following the advice of Government and experts to restrict social contact, in order to reduce the spread of the virus. So our practice is in line with the rest of society. Often we say that the church should not be so strongly influenced by society, but as a church in an area where the cases of the virus are still very high, I believe that our church should not meet in person for the good of everyone.
Which brings me back to my first question: Are you missing attending your church in person on Sundays? When we gather, we strengthen, support and encourage each other with songs, scripture, teaching, prayers and fellowship, both collectively and one-to-one. And we do this so that we can face another week out in the community.
We look forward to the day when we can meet together again in person without restrictions. We still do not know when that will be, or what form it will take. Until then, give thanks to God for the fellowship you have enjoyed in the past, and ask him to show you how in the future it might become a spiritual discipline to be valued, rather than just a habit.
And, of course, we look forward to the day when we will never be separated again. When Jesus returns, and gathers up his people to himself, so we will be with the Lord for ever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
And if you are prone to falling asleep in the sermon, be careful where you sit!
PRAYER:
Lord, as I spend another day in quietness of my own home,
may I know the joy of your presence with me
in a new and powerful way.
I confess that I have not always appreciated the blessing
of fellowship with other believers.
Help me at this time of separation to develop a longing to gather
with them, around you,
and to value and prioritise the opportunities when they come again.
Bless my brothers and sisters today, Lord, wherever they are. AMEN
SONGS:
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Read Hebrews 10:19-25:
How can you spur someone on today (v.24)?
In v.25, the writer says that we should not give up meeting together in light of ‘the Day approaching’ – that is, the day of Jesus return. How should the expectation of Jesus’ return give us reason to meet?