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.
Frozen rain mingled with snow fell on our streets and the roads are coated with ice. Schools are closed and people are encouraged to stay home. It is beautiful at first, this ice-decorated landscape. But look closely and there is a cost to be paid for freezing. A road sign fell casualty to a sliding car. Tree limbs broke under the weight of ice. A senior citizen’s life will never be the same because of a broken hip suffered negotiating treacherous ground. Cars won’t start because the cold sapped the life out of an unused battery.
Some of you are frozen. At first solitude seemed beautiful. It was a blessing to find respite from the critical eyes of nosy busybodies. It felt right to pull away from fellowship bereft of others’ agendas. But look more closely and a horrific price is paid. Your spiritual vitality is drained by the cold reality of nonuse. Your limbs are weighted down by the brittle icicles of a critical spirit. People miss you and are deprived of the unique contributions you bring. No matter what reason you chose to pull away from other followers of Jesus, remember, joy was never meant to be cold. Fellowship never works well on ice.
Don’t give up on an imperfect body of Christians. Don’t believe your absence goes unnoticed. Rebuke the notion that worship is private between you and God, therefore you don’t need others. That is utter hogwash. If a perfect Father willingly sent His only Son to be with sinners, what right have you to pull away? Don’t do it! Get back in circulation. Feel the warmth of God’s love expressed through His children. You matter! We all need you! “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)
Inspiration
