MISSING MEMBERS & FADING EMBERS
“Any Christian who believes they can flourish in their walk while choosing to walk that walk independent from other believers has one hand on the door that leads to deception.”
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as [is] the manner of some, but exhorting [one another], and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
I don’t recall all the times through the years that I have heard people say, “I don’t need to attend church, I can have church all by myself!” On a number of occasions I have firmly disagreed by saying, “No! You can pray and read and testify, etc. However, you cannot have church all by yourself.” Jesus gave us the minimum quorum of Church: Mat 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." So no, you can’t have church by yourself. You alone are not the church. I did not say, “You alone are not a Christian.” I said, “You alone are not the church!”
A story is told of a man who would go for long periods of time without attending church. One cold morning, the local pastor paid a visit to the man. He invited the pastor to sit with him by the fireplace. Without saying a word, the pastor took the poker and separated a coal from the other embers. Quickly, the lone coal lost its glow and turned black as the heat dissipated. The pastor turned and looked at the man. The man said, “Thanks for the message Pastor, I will see in church this Sunday!”
Born again people are like embers, we cannot burn for Jesus like God intends, without continual fellowship with fellow believers. United in Christ, we burn hotter and brighter and the Gospel light shines brighter for lost souls to find their way to Jesus! Can your church family look forward to seeing you this Sunday?
Every blessing!
—Tom