What do you look forward to most on a Sunday morning? Do you enjoy the worship at your church, or hope to see some friends that you have not talked with in a while. Maybe you haven’t been in the Word all week and you like to hear what the pastor has prepared to get you through another week. Maybe you are one of the few who like church coffee, or maybe just the conversations that go along with it. There are lots of opportunities to meet and greet one another on Sunday mornings and we often take these things for granted as we have seen this past year. What things did you miss most if you are gone a week or two from church, or when you weren’t able to gather for several months?
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
Over the past few years, with three young kids in our home, the frequency of socializing with other adults has dropped significantly in our house. I’m sure others are more adept at getting out with others, but it has gradually fallen off over the past five years in our family. The more limited opportunities to get out over the past 17 months with Covid restrictions hasn’t helped, but interacting with others through the use of different technologies has made it a little easier. Talking with family on the phone, zoom birthday parties, or watching church on the TV isn’t the same as seeing them in person, but it does help us stay connected. We have a small group of four families from our church that we meet with fairly often, and that has helped us stay more grounded outside of regular church activities. What ways to you connect with other Christians on a weekly basis away from church?
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
This past week, our family spent one evening with another family we have known for over 15 years, and who attended our wedding, but have not made it a point to get together in over five years. It was great catching up, playing, and praying with our old friends, and made me question a little why we don’t plan these things more often. I do realize it takes planning and persistence from both parties. Even when I was single, one person had to propose a time and place to meet, and if you are an introvert or two, this isn’t always your default setting. In fact you may prefer solitude and privacy more often, but there should be a little balanced outside interaction. If you do meet regularly with others, do you also meet regularly with God outside of the Sunday morning obligations? If you get out of the practice of praying and getting in the Word, you start to feel it, and you become more distant to Him and to his children. I would encourage you to get back in that habit if you have fallen out, as the benefits to you and others are definitely worth your time.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:17-18
Yours in Christ,
Clark
