John 20:19-21, 24-31 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
It was the third day, the day that Jesus was to rise from the dead. It was the first day of the week…Sunday…the day that the disciples were assembled with one another even though fear of the Jews finding them gathered caused them to meet behind closed doors. It seems they were all there that day, except one…the Bible clearly points out that Thomas was absent from this service. I wonder what Thomas was doing that day that he missed? Was it worth what he missed being in the presence of the Lord? Had he been there that day, would he be known as “Doubting Thomas” today? Or would that visit from the Lord have made all the difference in the legacy Thomas left behind?
Oh! What Thomas missed by missing church that Sunday! It is the same for us today. What do we miss by missing service? We miss an opportunity to experience PEACE in the presence of the Lord with fellow believers and members…we miss the encouragement that is found in the testimony and song service…we miss having our faith strengthened by seeing someone healed or saved or blessed or added to the Church…we miss the exhortation of theWord of God…not only do we miss all these things, but WE ourselves are missed!
How easy it is when we miss once to find plenty of excuses to miss the next time. Thankfully, Thomas, though doubting, came the next service! And he found what he needed in the presence of the Lord and the other disciples.
Oh! What you miss when you miss Church…
Hebrews 10:23-25… 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
-[Charlotte Dixon]
Very interesting but very very true! Never wanna miss out on church! God is the best thing that could ever happen to us!
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