When God’s People Gather

Hey you, who claim you do not need God's people in order to grow closer to Him. You, who think you are satisfied with the way you are, keeping your distance from the church.

Let me let you in on a little secret. We've all felt that way. Every one of us. The self-righteous church-go'er, the humble-steady servant, the twice-a-year attendee, the deeply-imbedded staff member, the hesitant visitor, the I'm-just-with-them spectator.

Yeah, all of us. We have all felt it. That longing to pull away from God's people. At one time or another.

Because people fail. Period. Christian or not, people fail. People fail each other.

And we all need security and comfort. We all need it. We all need stability and assurance. We do. We all need it.

And people can't provide it. Period.

Only Christ. Can.

And He will, for you. Christ will do it, and provide it, and be it, and meet it. All for you, He will. Through His people, He will. Yes, through His people. If you let Him, He will. For we really do all need Him, always, and He really does choose to use us, His people, always, to mould and to grow each other. Even when we fail each other. Perhaps, most, when we fail each other.

But only when you stop resenting the means, and instead start praising the One Who is over it all. When you stop striving after the wind, and instead start sailing from within the waves of your circumstances, simply knowing your Sailor. Knowing He knows best. Knowing He will do in you what cannot be done otherwise.

Because the moment you let Christ be and do and provide. The moment you let Christ in, it happens. It does. His Life is glorified. In you. In others. In His people, who choose to humble themselves before Him, right from within the flock of His people.

Because let me let you in on a little secret, once again. Where two or more gather together in His name, there He is. Yes. In His people, there He is. Among His flock, there He is. Through the hurting and the heartache, between the struggles and the awkwardness of being with His people, of being in life with His people, Christ is there, for His people.

For, it's true, apart from God's people, you really miss out on Christ. You really miss out on His working in and through and for His people, His working in and through and for you. To the fullest. As He intended it.

For where Christ is, there is all you need. So, when the emotions tell otherwise. When His people cause you to pull away. When you still cannot see Christ, for His people distract. Know, Christ is with His people. Know, Christ is with you. And know, Christ is working. In you. To bring you back to Him. All by using His people.

And it is good! Because God is good!!

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"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:20

"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