How can we apply the principle of gathering before God in our lives? The Heart of the Command: Exodus 23:17 “Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD GOD.” Why Gathering Matters • God Himself calls His people to meet with Him, not merely as individuals but as a community. • Physical gathering affirms that worship is embodied; it involves our whole selves. • Regular, appointed meetings keep our focus on the Lord’s redemptive acts and covenant faithfulness. Living It Out with the Local Church • Weekly Lord’s-Day worship: prioritize Sunday fellowship just as Israel observed its festivals. (Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together…”) • Special seasons: plan to attend revivals, conferences, or retreats that center on the Word and the Lord’s Supper, mirroring Israel’s three yearly feasts. • Serve while present: greet newcomers, join a ministry team, and bring offerings of time, gifts, and finances—echoing Israel’s worship gifts (Deuteronomy 16:16-17). Family and Household Application • Set a fixed time each week for family worship: Scripture reading, singing, and prayer around the table (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). • Mark milestones: birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays become “mini-pilgrimages” when dedicated to thanksgiving before the Lord. • Invite other believers into your home for fellowship and study, modeling Acts 2:46-47. Guarding Against Isolation • Identify and remove habits that keep you away from assembled worship—overcommitment, entertainment, excessive travel. • Stay accountable: share your gathering commitments with a mature believer who will notice and encourage consistency. • Remember Psalm 122:1: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’” Let joy replace duty-only attendance. Offering Ourselves When We Gather • Romans 12:1: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual service of worship.” • Prepare beforehand: read the passage to be preached, pray for the pastor, and arrive early. • Participate fully: sing, listen, respond, share in the Lord’s Table, and linger for fellowship. The Future Gathering That Shapes Us Now • Revelation 7:9-10 pictures “a great multitude…standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Every earthly assembly is a rehearsal for that eternal congregation. • Anticipating heaven fuels present faithfulness; each time we appear before God together, we taste the joy we will know forever. |
    |