Why do we congregate?

"Hold fast without wavering the hope we profess, for he is faithful that promised. And consider one another to provoke unto love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as some people do, but encourage and even more, as ye see the day approaching. "(Hebrews 10:23-25).

A member of a church wrote a letter to the editor of a Christian magazine, in which he said he did not have any sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've been going for 30 years," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard some 30,000 sermons. But I can assure you that I do not remember a single one of them. So I think I'm wasting my time going to church, and you may need to use it in something more productive. "

This created a kind of controversy in the "Letters to the Editor", and many people began to write to share their views. This continued for several weeks until someone wrote the following letter, which put an end to the discussion, "I have been married for 30 years. During that time, my wife has cooked some 30,000 meals. But today, I can not remember the full menu of even one of those meals. However, I do I can assure you that they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed every day to do my job. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead right now. In the same way if I had not gone to church to nurture, now I would be spiritually dead. "

Certainly a great illustration of the need to rally. Today's passage exhorts us to do so, in order to "stir up love and good deeds." The only way to be firm, without wavering, that which we believe is feeding our souls with the Word of God and seeking his presence at all times, either alone in our room, or meeting with a group of brothers with the same objective. The Bible teaches us that we establish a relationship with other believers, we are all part of the body of Christ and together we have important work to take place here on earth. Romans 12:5 says: "So we, being many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another." Ephesians 4:11-13 And the whole idea of this feature: "And he gave some , apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. "Then we are ready to leave the world to" preach the gospel to every creature. "(Mark 16:15)

When the church of Christ meets wonderful things happen. There is an additional power which manifests itself in that group, as Jesus said in Matthew 18:19-20: "Again I say, if two of you agree on earth concerning anything you ask, it will be done by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them. "In Acts 2, the Bible tells the powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It begins this way: "When the day of Pentecost, they were all together ..." That group of men and women had been gathered in the upper chamber, persevering in prayer while waiting to carry out what Jesus had promised just before ascending to heaven. Then the Holy Spirit comes amid a thunderous roar and fiery tongues, and they all received the power which the Lord had spoken.

The presence of God is manifest and evident in all meetings of their children who want to praise him. Psalm 22:3 declares that God dwells among the praises of his people. And Psalm 133:1-3 says: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, and down to the skirts of his garments, like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, and eternal life. "The fresh anointing of the Spirit of God is poured upon those who come together in harmony to praise and worship God.

PRAYER:
Thank you, dear Father, for your presence among your children who gather to worship and praise and to receive from you the strength, wisdom and love, as a body, we need to build and carry forward the mission that you have entrusted to Your town. In Jesus name, Amen and Amen
God bless you Pastor Maria Salinas