“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” People that love and appreciate each other miss seeing each other. There is a great comfort and encouragement in fellowshipping together. The early church met not only to worship the Lord, but to strengthen one another. In his absence from the believers in the church at Philippi, Paul wrote, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” It is stated about Epaphroditus in his absence from the same church, “He longed after you all.” When Paul was leaving the church at Ephesus, the believers “wept sore… that they should see his face no more.” At Fellowship Bible Church, we are friends, we are fellow labourers, we are fellow soldiers, we are fellow worshipers. WE ARE FAMILY!
I Corinthians 12 describes the local church as a body. Verse 26 states, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” We weep with those that weep and rejoice with those that rejoice. It is such a blessing to see the love, care and concern that each member has for the other at “such a time as this.”
After giving the believers at the church at Thessalonica the Word of God, Paul said to them, “comfort one another with these words.” The Bible talks about the comfort of the Scriptures. When I personally am overwhelmed, fearful or discouraged, I “flee” to the Psalms. Some of my favorites are Psalms 23, 34, 84, 103 and 121. They are all so healing and comforting.
Jesus said to His disciples, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” I will be with you, “in times of trouble.” He comforts us that we may not only be comforted, but that we might be comforters. II Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” 4, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Know today that you are being thought of and prayed for with love and appreciation. May God knit all of our hearts together. Please let us know when and how we can minister to you. Remember the old saying, “We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow.” May God richly bless you and give you peace in your heart.