The Church Scattered, Yet Gathered

It’s surreal as we hunker down in our own homes and worship apart. I’m an introvert and should be loving the seclusion, but I also crave the physical gathering of the body of Christ as we gather together. There is a visceral connection in-person that simply can’t be made virtually. Years ago when I lived overseas in a closed country where there was no church as we know it here in the west, I craved the bodily presence of other believers around me and the freedom to praise the name of Jesus without fear of the governing authority. During that time I listened to the recordings of worship services from home and would often wind up in tears, weeping over the beauty of the voices of the church gathered together. It gave me a deep longing to be with the church, and though I was far away, I could feel the Holy Spirit presiding across the distance. One of the greatest truths while apart was that God was yet near even as I was thousands of miles away.

Dear Christian, as we are scattered in this time let us remember not to give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing (Hebrews 10:25). Though we are apart, let’s remember that the church of Jesus Christ is an eternal entity, so may we encourage one another all the more as we look forward to that day when we will be united forever in His eternal kingdom. Until then, may our hearts yearn to be reunited in person again soon.