Read Hebrews 12:18-24
Invisible Companions
You have come to … an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly. -Hebrews 12:22-23
One Sunday morning while travelling in the countryside, we visited a small church in a tiny village. Only 15 people were present, yet they radiated joy as they sang. And the preacher preached from the Bible with enthusiasm. But I couldn’t shake a feeling of sympathy for him and the people. With little chance for growth, it looked like a discouraging ministry.
But the testimony of a young seminarian showed me how wrong I was. Assigned to minister in a small village chapel, he was dismayed when only teo people stayed for the communion service. As he read from the liturgy he came to the words: “Therefore, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we worship and adore Thy glorious name.” That sentence changed everything for him. In his heart he said, “God forgive me. I did not know I was in that great company.”
When we came to Christ in faith, we joined an invisible host of companions, what the writer of Hebrews says is an “innumerable company of angels,” and “the general assembly and church of the firstborn” (12:22-23). Keep this amazing reality in mind as you worship God. It will give great meaning to every service, whether thousands of fellow worshippers are present, or just two or three. -Hern Vander Lugt
Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven. -Wesley
When Christians worship here on earth, the hosts of heaven are worshipping with them.
Prayer:
V A Presbyterian congregation in Khartoum Sudan sees little hope of rebuilding amid growing anti-Christian sentiment. More than seven months after Muslim extremists burned its church building, this congregation is still afraid to meet for worship. Christian sources have stated that they are increasingly fearful as Muslim extremists pose more threats against Christians, in an attempt to rid of what they call Dar al Islam, the “Land of Islam,” of Christianity.
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