Man, This Hurts

"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." -- Hebrews 10:24-25

Man, this is hard, and it hurts. To look out the window, in the 11:00 hour, on Sunday, and see the church parking lot empty, and me sitting in the house.

Missing church, not being with the people, not fellowshipping together, not for a moment sharing the common life of being a child of God when we come together in His house to focus our attention upon Him. It hurts.

I have enjoyed sharing a time of worship with my wife and children. It is a tremendous blessing to hear your children read Scripture, to hear them pray, to join in our living room and sing God's praises, to be able with these precious gifts from God break the bread of life, to serve as the priest in our home. I am so thankful.

But I miss being with God's people, in God's house, on the Lord's day. In some ways I am thankful for this time away as it makes me (I pray) more grateful for the time we can and do spend together. To appreciate more this foretaste of heaven when all of God's children - from every tribe, tongue and nation - will be gathered around His throne to worship and praise Him forevermore. Until that time, may we not neglect meeting together.