| The Glory of the Common Life |
Chapter 11 |
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Do not many people have the same experience? Have you thought what you may miss any time you were absent from a religious service? There is a story of a coloured man in the South who walked several miles to his church, and never failed to attend. One week he was noticed by a white neighbour trudging every evening through rain and slush to his meeting. “Why do you go so far to church these stormy nights? I should think you would stay at home when the weather is so bad.” The old man took off his hat in the cold rain, and said with deep reverence, “You see, we are praying in our church for a blessing, and I would not dare to stay away for one night, for that might be the very night the blessing we are seeking would come, and if I were not there I should miss it.”
Church services are God’s appointments. Christ asks his people to meet him. He always keeps his appointments, and comes with a blessing. If we do not keep our appointments with him, we shall miss the good, the cheer, the help we need, and which he came to bring to us.
Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus came. Those who came saw the risen Lord and received his benediction. A great joy came into their hearts. But Thomas missed all this blessing. We do not know what divine message may come to the worshippers in our accustomed place of worship any Sunday morning. You may be in sorrow. The word that day may be a word of comfort, just the word your heart needs. Those who hear it thank God and go away with a song; but you, sitting in your home, nursing your grief, brooding over it, miss the message and go into another week unhelped, to walk all the day through gloom and shadow.
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