Gather

Hello Sister,

If you are reading this, you’ve survived Daylight Savings Time. Whoever came up with this idea, (Ben Franklin, I’ll go ahead and call you out!!!) did not consider the way a toddler would react to an hour shift in on the clock…I won’t go on and on about this but the days are starting super early at my house. And, it was so shocking to lose that extra hour of sunlight in the evening. It seems like the middle of the night when we are finishing up dinner! I’ve been so affected by the tangible darkness that I couldn’t help but think about abstract darkness of our world today. 

The darkness can separate us. Have you ever been in complete and utter darkness? I’m talking about the tangible darkness right now. We used to play hide-and-seek as kids in my home growing up, and there was a room in the basement that had no windows. I remember being in that room with absolutely no light. It was a bizarre feeling. I remember holding my hand up in front of my face and I had no confirmation that it was still there. This utter darkness divides, disunites, and alienates us. We might enter the darkness inadvertently, we could be forced into a time of darkness, or the darkness may be rising up within us. Whatever the case, when we are in this darkness, there is sometimes no way out. There is wandering, grasping, and coming up empty. Finding the escape can be a struggle and, in fact, impossible without light.

In contrast to the darkness that drives us apart, the light can gather us together. Just the tiniest bit of light gives away darkness’s secret…that we are not alone. The obstacles are exposed and we can find others, perhaps a solution, and most importantly, Jesus, the source of the light itself. Acts 2:46 tells us about the early believers- “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” These early Christians were surrounded by darkness. Jesus, the light of the world had come, but his acceptance was not instantaneous. And as the differences between the old way of worshipping and new began to grow, the believers who were part of the Jewish faith were eventually driven out by darkness. But, they had the light and they gathered to it. May we be so brave and bold as those early Christians to continue to gather around the light. 

This month will likely be full of gatherings for Thanksgiving with friends and family. Consider the light that drives us to gather together for teaching, prayer and fellowship .

Below is a Bible verse that you can post in your home to remind you of the great reasons we have to gather and be thankful. Right click to download the image.  

In Him, 

Grace