“FIRST SUNDAY BACK TO CHURCH!” What goes through your mind and heart?.
For some who traveled over the Christmas – New Year’s holiday, this upcoming Sunday will be their “First Sunday back” to their local church and fellowship with the believers in their “home church.” Perhaps they visited another church as a guest while they were gone. But while they were gone they may not have attended church at all. They may have “watched online,” simply had personal or family devotions, or just “slept in a bit.” Experience any “homesick feelings?”
This coming Lord’s day will be their “first Sunday back!” Thoughts and emotions may surface as Sunday approaches! A “home church” where worship, fellowship, and ministry takes place with dear fellow Christians stirs deep feeling and reflection!
Thought about that during my time of personal devotions today as I read Apostle Paul’s words as he wrote to fellow believers in Romans 1…
Here’s what went through his mind and heart absent those believes (and anticipating possibly being with them again) … (Good stuff!)
“I thank God through Jesus Christ for all of you! Your faith is proclaimed in all the world! … God is my witness…that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you! I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each others faith, both yours and mine! … I am under obligation both to the Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach to gospel to you also!” (From Romans 1:8-15)
Did you pick up on his deep thoughts and feelings? “FIRST SUNDAY BACK!” – What can we learn from what Apostle Paul had to say? Here’s some things…
Genuine thankfulness for fellow Christians – all of them, their lives, their witness, and their contribution to helping reach the entire world for Christ!
Prayerfulness for them – wherever and whenever they come to mind! Notice, he said he did it “without ceasing!”
The deep desire to use the gifts God had given him to make a contribution to their lives – to “strengthen them!” But that’s not all … the recognition that their gifts would also make a significant contribution to him! It’s called “mutual edification” and it’s the kind of thing that happens – that ought to happen – every time a local church gathers! (Check out 1 Corinthians 12:7, 12-26; 14:1-5, 12, 26)
And finally, a deep sense of obligation to one another… No, more than that – a sense of obligation to anyone and everyone who gathers there, regardless of their ethnicity, their social standing, or their intellectual ability! And not just the ones who gather together on Sunday – a sense of obligation to the entire community… in fact the entire nation and world! (vss. 14-15)
Yup, that’s how I want to feel anytime I’m facing “FIRST SUNDAY BACK!”
Coffee With The Lord 