Psalm 14:5 God is present in the company of the righteous.

It is an indication of the fact that David was a man after God’s own heart that he said so many things that are similar to things Jesus said. This verse of course echoes Jesus’ famous statement in Matthew 18:20 that “Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” It is simple fact that when people who love God get together, He shows up. That alone should be enough to make Christians want to gather! Actually, it does. Any time people who say they are Christians don’t want to get together with other Christians, it indicates problems. The list of possible problems is quite long, starting with the possibility of “false conversion,” with no genuine acknowledgment of sin and subsequent repentance. Sadly, there are churches where God probably does not show up, because everyone is there from false motives. Any time we feel a reluctance to gather with other Christians we need to take it as a diagnostic danger signal and look for the cause, starting in ourselves. One of the first possibilities is that we have allowed our love for God to grow cold, by placing something ahead of Him in our hearts. That actually violates the first of the 10 Commandments! That can happen gradually, so that we don’t notice it at first, but not wanting to gather with other Christians should be a “yellow card” to wake us up to what is happening. I could go on and on about the blessings that are poured out on the “gathering of the saints,” but it all starts with a commitment to love God and place Him first in our hearts and lives.

I can’t say that I’ve always wanted to go to church. When Cathy and I were first married we were in a real sense running from the Church, but we learned that you can’t out-run God. As a pastor, I have learned that too many scheduled meetings can burn the life out of a church. When gathering becomes an obligation rather than a privilege, that’s not good. I have had to learn that my calling people together is not the same as their gathering in Jesus’ name, as He said. However, I’m not to slight the importance of our gatherings. A major technique of the devil in modern times is making us too busy for God, and it takes real will power to stand against that. I’ve got to get the help of the Holy Spirit to stand firm in my own life, and I’ve got to encourage and strengthen the believers in doing the same. This is a difficult subject in this day and age, but we can do it by the power of Him who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Father, thank You for this reminder. I expect to see someone this morning who has fallen for the devil’s lies and hasn’t been to church in quite a while. I ask for Your grace, Your love, and the power of Your Holy Spirit as I talk with him, that he may be led out of the dark hole into which he has fallen, to walk in Your light and life. I pray for the other people I will be visiting today as well. May they all receive Your truth and so be set free from the lies that have bound them, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!