Close Encounters

Sunday was a day of close encounters. No, I’m not talking about UFOs or extraterrestrial beings (well, sorta). I’m talking about the encounters each had who was present for our worship service. Here’s what we ‘encountered.’

We encountered an atmosphere of praise. Just think a moment of lifting our voices in praise to our God as we sang for and about Him and encouraged one another. Think of the praise we offered to God.

We encountered each other in fellowship. Isn't it marvelous to greet one another in the love of Christ knowing we all belong to the same family? Isn’t it a tremendous thing to share together in communing with God and Jesus in partaking of the Lord’s Supper?

We encountered challenges. At least, I hope each of us was presented with a challenge to make sure our lives reflect the message of Jesus. I hope we were each challenged to evaluate our lives to make sure we are living acceptably to our Father. I hope we were challenged by the lessons in the Bible classes. I hope we were challenged to make sure our lives are messages of the fullness of Christ in us and not a message of emptiness.

We encountered ourselves. Each time we enter God’s house to worship Him, we should be taking a very close look at ourselves as Paul admonishes us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 when he writes, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (ESV)

We encountered the future. Yes, each time we gather for worship, we are looking to the future. We are anticipating the time when our Savior will return for His faithful servants. Paul reminds us of the Lord’s intentions in the Lord’s Supper that we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26) We are anticipating a home with our Father in heaven. We are preparing for that future by showing our God that we love and honor Him.

Each time we come together to worship God, we have ‘close encounters.’ Isn't it great to come together for those encounters? You see, it wasn’t just this last Sunday that we had those encounters. That happens every Sunday as Christians gather to worship and share in fellowship with God and one another. Don’t miss out on those encounters in the Family of God? Cherish the opportunity to be strengthened.

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony