Post by Cindy on Apr 22, 2017 8:40:45 GMT -5
If we're honest, we know that the Lord not only wants us to be in a good, bible teaching Church regularly, but that He commands us to do so. We should long to be in Church every Sunday. That should be our favorite day of the week. I know it always was for me. But what about those of us who are unable to attend Church? I don't mean those who don't want to, and just make excuses, but those who do want to attend, but due to health problems simply can't do so any longer, or perhaps can only attend once in a great while? I know for me that there are often times that I long so badly to be able to go to church that it literally hurts. But the Lord always comforts me and I know He always will.
What does God say to us? Are we living in sin because we can't go to church? No, Not if we truly can't attend. Even if other Christians don't understand because we "don't look sick" or they can't see our pain, the Lord knows the truth, and He will take care of us. It's still important for us to find some way to "gather together" with other believers as regularly as possible though. Many people find that in forums online. Or they may listen or read sermons, or do bible studies on line as well as fellowship. Others have been able to have fellow believers come over to their house regularly for worship and fellowship. Some are able to find a compassionate Pastor locally who will agree to come over to their house once a month to fellowship and have the Lord's Supper with them. The Lord will help each of us find ways to get together with other believers if we ask Him. And it's important that we do ask Him to help us and guide us. We also shouldn't be satisfied with just one answer, such as fellowshipping online. We should continually ask the Lord to guide us to other believers that might be open to visiting with us regularly.
Of course, whenever it's possible, even if that only happens once or twice a year, we should always be prepared to go to our local church. Let's keep it in our minds that we're going to go to Church every Sunday. When Sunday comes, if the Lord has miraculously made it physically possible for us to go, that way we'll be mentally prepared which makes it much easier to actually get up and go. I realize that most of the time that's not going to happen. My emotions used to feel like a roller coaster on Sundays. Every Saturday evening I'd be all excited thinking I'd be going to church the next day. Then the next day would come and It would be impossible for me to do. Then I'd feel so depressed. But the Lord reminded me through His Word that He was with me there at home just as He was in Church, and that He was in control, not me. He reminded me that I was to "be content" with this circumstance too. I know it's easy for us to get in the habit of assuming that we won't be able to go to church, but that's the wrong way to look at it. Instead, let's look at it as the Lord being in control and if it is His Will for us, then He will make a way for it to happen. Therefore, we need to be ready in case He does make a way for us to go! Then, if He doesn't, we can still rejoice that He is in control and we are in His loving Hands.
We often feel as though we have nothing to contribute to a local fellowship since many of us are unable to do the things that we used to do. I know I had to drop being the Sunday School Superintendent, and then drop out of the worship team, and the prayer group I was part of, as well as other things. But there's one very important thing that we can all do that will help our local church more than anything else. What is it? Pray! Nothing can prevent us from praying! No, we may not be able to attend groups with others, but we can pray at home. We can be on the prayer team and take calls for emergency prayers that are needed. We can quietly, try to find out the names of the other people who attend the church we go to that "once in a while" that we can, and we can pray for them. Since many churches have pages on facebook and the members share there, it's fairly easy to discover the names of those who attend the church and what their needs are. Or, of course, we can also ask someone to help us gather names. We can pray for the Pastor, for the services, for the Lord to open the people's hearts to His Word, for people to be saved, for people to have a closer relationship with the Lord. Just pray for whatever the Lord lays on your heart and you will be doing a service for that church that is the most important one of all! We don't need for others to know what we're doing, although it's also perfectly ok if they do have some idea of it. Remember our Lord's words: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6) We can be the Father's secret agents!
What does God say to us? Are we living in sin because we can't go to church? No, Not if we truly can't attend. Even if other Christians don't understand because we "don't look sick" or they can't see our pain, the Lord knows the truth, and He will take care of us. It's still important for us to find some way to "gather together" with other believers as regularly as possible though. Many people find that in forums online. Or they may listen or read sermons, or do bible studies on line as well as fellowship. Others have been able to have fellow believers come over to their house regularly for worship and fellowship. Some are able to find a compassionate Pastor locally who will agree to come over to their house once a month to fellowship and have the Lord's Supper with them. The Lord will help each of us find ways to get together with other believers if we ask Him. And it's important that we do ask Him to help us and guide us. We also shouldn't be satisfied with just one answer, such as fellowshipping online. We should continually ask the Lord to guide us to other believers that might be open to visiting with us regularly.
Of course, whenever it's possible, even if that only happens once or twice a year, we should always be prepared to go to our local church. Let's keep it in our minds that we're going to go to Church every Sunday. When Sunday comes, if the Lord has miraculously made it physically possible for us to go, that way we'll be mentally prepared which makes it much easier to actually get up and go. I realize that most of the time that's not going to happen. My emotions used to feel like a roller coaster on Sundays. Every Saturday evening I'd be all excited thinking I'd be going to church the next day. Then the next day would come and It would be impossible for me to do. Then I'd feel so depressed. But the Lord reminded me through His Word that He was with me there at home just as He was in Church, and that He was in control, not me. He reminded me that I was to "be content" with this circumstance too. I know it's easy for us to get in the habit of assuming that we won't be able to go to church, but that's the wrong way to look at it. Instead, let's look at it as the Lord being in control and if it is His Will for us, then He will make a way for it to happen. Therefore, we need to be ready in case He does make a way for us to go! Then, if He doesn't, we can still rejoice that He is in control and we are in His loving Hands.
We often feel as though we have nothing to contribute to a local fellowship since many of us are unable to do the things that we used to do. I know I had to drop being the Sunday School Superintendent, and then drop out of the worship team, and the prayer group I was part of, as well as other things. But there's one very important thing that we can all do that will help our local church more than anything else. What is it? Pray! Nothing can prevent us from praying! No, we may not be able to attend groups with others, but we can pray at home. We can be on the prayer team and take calls for emergency prayers that are needed. We can quietly, try to find out the names of the other people who attend the church we go to that "once in a while" that we can, and we can pray for them. Since many churches have pages on facebook and the members share there, it's fairly easy to discover the names of those who attend the church and what their needs are. Or, of course, we can also ask someone to help us gather names. We can pray for the Pastor, for the services, for the Lord to open the people's hearts to His Word, for people to be saved, for people to have a closer relationship with the Lord. Just pray for whatever the Lord lays on your heart and you will be doing a service for that church that is the most important one of all! We don't need for others to know what we're doing, although it's also perfectly ok if they do have some idea of it. Remember our Lord's words: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6) We can be the Father's secret agents!
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