When one thinks of the saints of God gathering to worship, the call of Israel’s sweet psalmist David echoes through the ages: “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3). When saints assemble, our hearts should be aflame with a burning desire to offer our adoration and praise to the true and living God. Wow! What a privilege!
Without a doubt, special things happen when Christians come together to worship God! Not the least of these is expressing our adoration and thanksgiving to God for His wonder working power and love, through which He showers blessing upon blessing upon us. God is great and greatly to be praised!
However, the purpose of our assemblies extends beyond the vertical praise of creature to Creator. In a fascinating display of infinite wisdom, God has designed our assemblies to be beneficial for us in other ways. In addition to coming together to worship God, our assemblies are divinely designed for the edification of believers. Concerning the conduct of worship in the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul counsels, “…Let all things be done for edification” (1 Corinthians 14:26). In addition to glorifying God, saints come together to strengthen one another.
When saints assemble we stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 9:24). We teach and admonish one another through the songs we sing (Colossians 3:16). We display our faith in God and unity in purpose by giving to advance the cause of Christ (2 Corinthians 8 – 9). In observance of the Lord’s Supper we share in remembering our precious Savior and all He had done for us. We also make a unified proclamation of His death till He comes (1 Corinthians 11:24-29). When honor God as we share in a time of hearing the Word of God proclaimed, we are instructed in His ways and challenged to live holy lives for Him (2 Timothy 4:2 and Titus 2:12). The assembly of saints should, indeed, be felt far beyond the limited time we are together under one roof.
When God’s children long for and eagerly come together to study the Scriptures and worship the Almighty, God is most certainly pleased. Heaven’s response is surely one of joy and satisfaction. But, what of our response? Our assemblies should be much more than a period of ritualistic observance of certain “acts” of worship. Our hearts should be touched and souls should be stirred. In fact, our lives should be changed!
Special things happen when saints assemble. God has designed our worship in such a way that He is praised and we are blessed for taking part. We are stimulated, strengthened, taught, admonished, edified, and encouraged. Since the assembling of God’s people means so much to Him and since it can be so beneficial for us, I earnestly beseech you to take advantage of every opportunity to assemble with the saints. God will be pleased! You will be blessed!
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” —John 4:23-24 NIV
© Bill Williams
2008.12.11
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