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 (NIV)
Easter Sunday was awesome! Many thousands of believers gathered to celebrate the miracle of Jesus rolling away the stone, overcoming death, and showing Himself to more than five hundred witnesses, including the disciples and Mary.
The reports around the United States said more people than average attended Easter Sunday services. Fantastic news!
What now?
In Hebrews, Paul discusses the importance of persistent fellowship. Spending time with our brothers and sisters can help us gain strength from one another. Proverbs 27:17 proclaims: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
As believers, the familiarity of our regular gatherings at church and in small groups builds lasting friendships of trust under the covering of Jesus. We worship, study bible verses and hear teachings that give a richer meaning to God’s Word and our relationship with Him.
Going to church is not a requirement or proof of our faith. It is meant to benefit us. We are not alone in the world. We have Jesus, our family of Christ followers, and His Word. In addition to this, as our relationships develop with others, we can ask for prayer when life circumstances seem overwhelming, as they sometimes are. Likewise, we can offer our prayers to others when they need our help.
Many of you reading this email are already well-connected at your church. That’s wonderful. On Easter Sunday, you probably saw people who do not regularly attend services. The challenge is to reach out to one person or one family that does not usually attend. It may be more important to start a relationship with them that will eventually lead them to attend church or a small group more often.
Prayer:
Lord, only You know what is really going on in each person’s heart. You know the history of all of us. Some of us have been hurt badly by past experiences at church or by someone we know who said they were Christian and broke that trust in some way. Please, Jesus, lead us to people in our circle of influence whom we can encourage to try church. Teach us how to be good servants. It starts with a willingness to grow a love relationship just like You did with us. We are confident that with Your help, we can be a help to others. Amen