“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:23-25
The couple had a relaxing weekend away, thanks in part to Grandma’s willingness to watch the kids. Late Sunday afternoon, they returned home, and after settling in, mom asked:
“So, what have you been up to while we were gone?”
“Lots of things-and we even went to church,” Trevor replied.
“You all got ready and went to church with Grandma?”
Before Grandma could respond, Trevor quickly piped in: “Well, not exactly-we did couch church!”
Our world is transforming before our eyes, and there’s no better example than Trevor’s “couch church” description to emphasize this truth. On that Sunday morning, he and his sister enjoyed a television service that their grandmother watches. When later queried by his father about what he’d learned from the sermon, Trevor even had his own personal take-away.
Today we not only have television options for learning about God, but there are also numerous resources on the Internet, too. My brother-in-law is a pastor in Texas, and we tune in to his Sunday morning service thanks to streaming technology. We get to enjoy that worship service as we’re getting ready to head out the door to our own church!
There are also many “old school” methods for getting closer to God. Not long ago in Montreal, we watched as two men had “café church” – in French! Hovered over a Bible, the two sipped coffee while reading and vigorously discussing a portion of Scripture. This is exactly what the verses above are telling us about: meeting together, encouraging one another, and offering motivation for acts of goodness and love. This kind of spiritual empowerment doesn’t have to happen in a particular building; it should be happening everywhere we go, all throughout our day!
I learned a valuable lesson from Trevor’s story. People worship in different ways, and in a high-tech world like ours, there are multiple options to help people know more about God and the goodness, mercy, and love He has to offer. As you begin this amazing New Year, take time to think about the way you worship. Stay involved in a Bible-believing church. Meet with friends and family often, and be sure to share about what God has been doing in your life. Look for new opportunities to reach out to others, encouraging them in life’s journey. Most of all, keep your focus on the wonderful future your Heavenly Father has planned-just for you!
Happy New Year to you and your family from all of us at Sonkist Ministries!
Thought of the Month
“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people. . .”
Psalm 100:1-3a