Daily Devotions
Small Churches
Title: Small Churches
Reading for April 16: 1 Kings 19-20
And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left..."
1 Kings 19:13-14
On our honeymoon, Adrienne and I worshiped with a very small group. They met in a modest sized building, so we expected a fair number to show up. Little did we know that our presence in the Bible class would nearly double the attendance!
There are probably thousands of similar situations around the world each Lord's day where just a few souls gather together to worship. They meet in huts, under trees, in store fronts, in houses, and, in some cases, in church buildings that years ago held many more members.
These groups, no matter how small, are precious to the Lord. He said "where two or three gather together in my name, there I am among them." (Matthew 18:20)
When we go on vacation we should keep little groups like these in mind, and search them out to worship with them. (And with the Internet they are easier to find than they used to be.) It takes a little more work on our part, but what a great blessing we can give! We remind them that they are a part of a larger family; that they're not alone. They've made a conscious choice to stand for truth. Our presence tells them that they are not standing by themselves.
And while I'm on the subject, if you're a part of a church that offers the live streaming option, please, please, PLEASE... don't use this as a convenience when you have the ability to encourage one of these small churches while on vacation.
God, bless all of those who faithfully hold fast to your truth and refuse to sell out. May we have more opportunities to support them in their stand for truth.
