The Joy of Gathering for Worship

 

⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

—The words of the Apostle Luke from Acts 2:41-47

 

Are you one of those individuals that especially has fun when you meet with your friends? Oh, it’s okay to do things by yourself. Sometimes, it’s truly enjoyable just to be by yourself and do what you want to do without anyone else being around. But, I am willing to suggest that the most fun you have takes place when you gather with other people and you all undertake an activity together.

When you do get together with other people, have you also noticed how much more fun it is when you engage in some activity that involves all of you at the same time? It may be sort of fun to be in a room with your friends where each person is doing his or her own thing. But, the really fun times occur when all of the people present gather around and do something that includes every, single person.

There is just something about being together, doing the same thing, at the same time, for the same purpose, that brings a great deal of joy and excitement.

In Acts 2:41-47, the Bible tells us that the early church was just like that. There is no doubt that each one of the early Christians set aside time to be alone with the Lord for prayer and meditation. During those times alone, each Christian was able to concentrate on what God was doing in his or her life, and express praise and thanksgiving to God in prayer.

But, the really exciting times came when the Christians would all gather together. As a group of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Christians had a special bond with each other that made their times together exciting, and very fulfilling.

The Bible teaches us that this is exactly what God intended for His people. He intended for them to have the greatest sense of joy, the greatest effectiveness in doing His work, and the greatest expression of His Power within them, when they gathered together and devoted themselves to a single purpose.

That is really what the Sunday worship service at your church should be all about. You gather together with fellow Christians because you love the Lord Jesus Christ. You want to worship Him as one body of believers. You want to experience the excitement of His Presence in your midst. And, you want to have the joy of the fellowship that you can have with each other.

And, each one of you is a part of this gathering at your church. The fact that each of you is present for worship helps everyone else experience the kind of joy that God wants all of you to experience when you gather together to worship Him.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for making us so we want to be together. Help us to learn how to be people that love You and want to serve You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

_{Copyright © 2011 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}