On weekend mornings when I was a kid, I'd get up early, and all morning long I'd watch cartoons. On Saturdays there was always lots of cartoons; on Sundays, not so many. So on Sundays, while waiting for the cartoons to start, I'd watch Rex Humbard.
I didn't know this at the time, but Rex Humbard was the first televangelist to have a weekly program in the United States. I don't remember a thing that he preached, but I do remember being fascinated and envious of the people who were lucky to attend that church, while I sat at home and watched the service on television.
Fast forward to today - because of the pandemic, practically every church now has live-streamed services. This has been a good thing, especially when churches were closed for several months. It's also been a good thing for anyone who was sick or understandably nervous about getting sick.
And it's still a good thing; live-stream is here to stay. Every church has people who are home bound. And all of us get sick, we go on vacation, we sometimes have to work on Sundays. It's good to be able to "virtually" participate in a church service, when we can't physically attend that service.
Today my readings included Psalm 84. This Psalm is the prayer of someone who's longing to visit God's house.
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. (verses 2, 4, and 10)
And I can't read that Psalm aloud without becoming emotional.
We can worship the Lord anywhere, at any place and at any time. But there's something special about being at God's house, at His church, a place designated for worship.
Perhaps for Christians who grew up always going to church, the weekly service can sometimes seem "not as special" as it's meant to be. But hopefully the pandemic has shown us that we Christians are made to live in community.
Faith isn't an "alone" thing. We need one another. We need encouragement and friendship from other Christians. Also, by living in community, we learn how to love one another, to forgive one another, and to serve one another.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
Throughout this past year, I've been praying that the pandemic would end, and that, in its ending, the Lord would be glorified in this whole thing, in some manner.
As we move forward, I pray that our churches and the people in them are even more aware and committed, and faithfully trusting and knowing the Lord and what He's done for us. While that may not translate into numbers of people, I'm really praying for the condition of our hearts.
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14
