I missed Church!

Yesterday was a long day of travel, but we are back home. We got in sometime after 1:00am this morning and went straight to bed. The bed felt great. We had such a wonderful time, but one thing I missed was CHURCH. When I say I MISSED church, understand, we watched it online. That is the great convenience of technology. I loved that we got to listen to my good friend Mason deliver the message and be a part of the service in a small way. But, I MISSED BEING THERE. Wanda Byrd led an anointing before the message and I wanted to be there so bad. Yes, I joined them in prayer, but it was just not the same. 

I know that ever since COVID people have migrated to online church, but those that are able and DON'T attend church each Sunday are really missing something special. When I miss on a Sunday morning, I just don't feel complete. Church is not the place, although I love the PLACE of CHURCH. I mostly miss spending time with my CHURCH FAMILY, sharing their pains, their joys, the tears, and life's challenges. Watching ONLINE you just don't get to experience it in the same way. 

I continued my study of HEBREWS this morning and read this scripture which stuck in my mind and my heart:

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22, NLT)

When Jesus died on the cross and the great curtain tore from top to bottom in the TEMPLE a new CHURCH experience was established. No longer was "church" about coming to give sacrifices. No longer was church about going to a priest to intercede on your behalf. Church was now about building a DEEP, PERSONAL, RELATIONSHIP with the CREATOR of ALL THINGS. AND as we build a deeper relationship with the Father and His Son, we also have the joy of deeper relationships with our FAMILY of BELIEVERS. 

Church is such a valuable part of my life, not just because I am a pastor, but because when I enter the BUILDING we call church, I am also renewing my commitment to my HEAVENLY FATHER and the family of believers that are the REAL CHURCH. When I enter the "sanctuary" I am entering a HOLY PLACE, a place that reminds me that the GOD of ALL THINGS, cares about ME. He wants a relationship with ME, and he CHOSE ME. There is no vail blocking me from experiencing His love directly. There is no GUILT because He has already washed me clean, once and for all time, free of guilt, shame, and desire to sin. PRAISE GOD for CHURCH!