27/2/21 Day 10

TODAY'S VERSE: 27/2/21 Day 10

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Hebrews 10:24-25
 

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Growing up, especially as a Lutheran pastor’s kid, the season of Lent meant one thing—Wednesday night soup suppers. I’m not sure why that’s one of the top memories that I still remember, given that at the time I wasn’t a huge fan! When you’re a teenager, going to the church basement to have soup with people twice your age wasn’t the primary definition of fun. Yet there’s a reason I remember those nights to this day—it was a picture of the church as family. We ate together, taking turns serving the meal, shared stories, and then worshipped together. We used the season of Lent to gather weekly—because that’s what family does—we keep showing up no matter what.

This season of Lent, I want to encourage you to think about the power of community, the fact that God calls us as His church a family. We may not have soup suppers in the church basement for Lent, but there are literally dozens of ways to gather weekly with your church family, the most central being weekend worship.

What I learned on those Wednesday nights long ago was that consistency is powerful. This is what the writer of Hebrews is encouraging the church with as well. Don’t give up meeting together because you need each other. This season of Lent, in addition to what you’ll give up, consider taking on the discipline of gathering. As we say at Hope a lot, when you gather for worship or groups, it’s good for the church, and it’s good for you!

Pastor Jon

TODAY'S PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for the power of community. I know that you created me to be in relationship with others, even though I don’t always make it a priority. Thank you for brothers and sisters in Christ that I can be honest and real with, and continue to show me the joy and power of gathering with my church family. Amen.




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