James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United
States, took office on March 4, 1881. On his first Sunday in Washington
following his inauguration, a member of the Cabinet insisted that a meeting
must be called to discuss a matter that purportedly threatened a national
crisis. The President refused, stating that he was already committed to another
appointment. The Cabinet member insisted, telling the President that the
national matter was of grave importance and that he should break his prior
engagement. Still, Mr. Garfield refused to do so. Obviously appalled, the Cabinet member
remarked, “I would be interested to know with whom you have an engagement so
important that it cannot be broken.” Mr.
Garfield replied, “I will be as frank as you are. My engagement is with the
Lord, to meet Him at His house, at His table, at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning,
and I shall be there.” What an example!
May we, too, be so dedicated to the worship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
that we shall not forget we have a standing “prior engagement” every Sunday
morning (BulletinDigest.com).
There are any number of things that can keep us from
gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ -- some more legitimate than
others. I’ll not get into debating what
are “good” reasons and what are not, because (1) such debate would be missing
the point, (2) your list is probably different than mine, and (3) the Bible
doesn’t have an approved list for comparison.
But a few things are clear.
First, the Scriptures encourage us to be together
(Hebrews 10:24-25). Second, assembling as believers was assumed and affirmed as
a reality (Acts 2:41-44; 16:13; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 5:4; 11:17-18,20;
14:23). Third, history records that when
early Christians faced persecution which prevented them from meeting together
as they normally would, they didn’t give up being together. Instead, they continued to meet in
underground burial caves to avoid detection.
Being together is vital. What is keeping us from being with our church
family?
God loves you!
Mike
