Newsletter: October
“Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Think about that. When a married couple kneels together beside their bed in prayer, Jesus is there. When a family bows their heads to give thanks at the dinner table, he is there. When a pastor has a prayer beside a bed in a hospital with someone who is suffering, he is there. Want to know where to find Jesus? Here’s the secret: Get together with someone else who is a follower of his for the express purpose of studying his word, or worshiping his name or lifting up petitions in prayer and he will be there, guaranteed!
We are not alone. That’s the good news for the day. We are not alone.
Every once in a while science aims its telescopes into the farthest reaches of the universe and invariably someone will ask the question, are we alone? And the resounding answer of scripture is No. There is One who is with us.We are not alone.
Here is where we find strength for our journey in this world. We draw it from the knowledge that God is with us. Of course, we have air to breath and food to eat and water to drink. All these are necessary for life. But they’re not enough for abundant life. We need meaning. More than that we need companionship. We need love. We need that which raw matter cannot provide.
You see, you can eat all the foods that are good for you. You can exercise to the point that your body is a wonder to behold. You can take vacations to Europe, sleep in all the beautiful castles. But there will come a time when you will have to confront your essential emptiness--emptiness that can only be filled by God. We are not alone. This is where we get strength for the journey. But there’s one thing more to be said.
The surest place to find God is in the fellowship of other believers. “Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
This is what church is all about. Yes, you can worship God out on a mountainside all by yourself. You can find God walking along a beach. But there are millions of people who have climbed tall mountains and walked miles on beaches who have not given a thought to God. But when you come into church, the room itself whispers “God.” The architecture, the symbols, the windows--all designed to bring us into God’s presence. Even more important are the hymns, the prayers, the reading from the Sacred Word. And even, from time to time, a word said from the pulpit. Of course, you can read the Word, and sing the hymns and pray eloquent prayers and listen to a television preacher at home. The critical difference is that when you come to church you are doing these things in the company of other believers. That’s when Christ’s incredible promise is made real: “Whenever two or three come together . . .” Church is where most people find God.
Fortunately when we leave church, we take Christ with us. When that happens, we can have a worship service any time we share our faith with someone else. All we need is one other person to have the prescribed number.
We are not alone. This is where we find strength for the journey. Our Lord has given us an incredible promise: “Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Now take him to everyone you meet.
See you in church this next Lord’s day.
Blessings, John