Today’s thought is a short one. It comes from the very first verse in today’s Proverb.

Proverbs 18:1 – He who separates himself seeks his own desire, he quarrels against all sound wisdom.

This verse immediately brought to mind the many conversations I’ve had with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, since Covid. When Covid hit, everything shut down for a time…even the church. Thankfully, our little local body of believers could only separate for a few weeks, when we decided we needed to follow God’s commands more than man’s. We opened our doors and advised people to make their own decisions as to whether or not they would attend, whether or not they needed a mask, and whether or not being together as the body of Christ was more important than the fear of getting sick.

Sadly, even now, years later, we run into friends who have yet to return to their local body.

There also seems to be an epidemic of not being able to find the “right” church. Maybe something changed where you were attending, and you didn’t particularly like it. So, you decided to go somewhere else, except “somewhere” turned into “nowhere.”

Charles Spurgeon didn’t mince words when he addressed the Christian’s habit of not belonging to a local church.

I know there are some who say, “Well, I’ve given myself to the Lord, but I don’t intend to give myself to any church.”  I say, “Now why not?”  And they answer, “Because I can be just as good a Christian without it.”  I say, “Are you quite clear about that?  You can be as good a Christian by disobedience to your Lord’s commands as by being obedient?  There’s a brick.  What is the brick made for?  It’s made to build a house.  It is of no use for the brick to tell you that it’s just as good a brick while it’s kicking about on the ground by itself, as it would be as part of a house.  Actually, it’s a good-for-nothing brick.  So, you rolling stone Christians, I don’t believe that you’re answering the purpose for which Christ saved you.  You’re living contrary to the life which Christ would have you live and you are much to blame for the injury you do.”   –C.H. Spurgeon

What does Proverbs say? He who separates himself seeks his own desires…he quarrels against all sound wisdom.

I could write a book (and many have been written) on how important it is for a follower of Jesus to be in community with, serve with, and worship with other believers in this unique entity we call the local church. The local church is the visible manifestation of the universal church which is made up of all God’s people in all the world, throughout all time.

One day we will gather with that church around God’s throne and sing His praises. We will spend eternity serving and worshipping with one another. Perhaps we ought to be practicing that now.

Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Are you a Christian – a follower of Jesus?

Are you part of a local church?

These are two inseparable things. Perhaps you have withdrawn for a time. Today is a good day to return to the place dear to God’s heart – His local church.