Recently I decided to sample this year's edition of the stomach bug.  I did not find it to my liking....and I strongly suggest you avoid it until there’s something more tolerable that comes along.  

Anyway..... 

As a result of the virus I missed the first Sunday of worship in the New Year.   That bothered me--not because I am the minister and it is my "job" to be there: I genuinely miss the fellowship of being with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  AND I missed being around the Table of Our Lord.  Missing out on Sunday is not just a one day event either.  The effects seem to linger all of the next week.  Nothing seems to go as smoothly as it should.   When you don't get off on the right foot on the First Day of the Week, the other six days don't seem to go well either.  Preachers are always talking about the importance of being in church.   They aren't the only ones.   The Bible itself tells us that we need those weekly get-togethers:

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.   

Did you note the Bible's reason for us gathering each Lord's Day?   It is to get prepared for the coming Day.  What day?  Monday?   No, it would be.the Day of the Lord's return.   In these troubled times the Lord's Coming is looking more and more inviting.  Still...it is something we need to be prepared for.   So....if you are ill, go ahead and stay home.  But if all that is keeping you in bed is the desire to get an extra hour of sleep....or you don't feel like dealing with the 3 new inches of Global Warming that fell last night---get up!  

And get to church! 

See you there!

Bill