John 20:24 KJV
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
This is the first day of the week. And though it was not yet an established truth, Jesus was there but Thomas was not. One of the reasons we gather on Sunday is because it became the practice of the Lord to meet with the disciples on the first day of the week.
But on that first, first day of the week, Thomas was missing. I don't know why; the Bible doesn't say.
• He could have been discouraged and contemplating returning to his old life
• He could have been disillusioned having witnessed the crucifixion of Christ whom He believed to be the next king in Israel.
• He could have been in hiding, wondering if that would be his fate next
Whatever the reason, we are sure it wasn't a good one. His response to the disciples when they told him they had seen the Lord is evidence of that.
And whatever our reasons for missing the assembly of the saints will not make up for the fact that we missed the Lord. People who are doubters think little of those missed spiritual opportunities. Christ is not that great of a priority to them. They doubt whether we really were blessed of God anyway, probably because they have been in some of the services when others were ministered to of the Lord and they didn't sense His presence.
Being assembled with the saints means more than being there in the flesh. We need to be there in the spirit too.
I am thankful that Thomas had a later opportunity to meet with Christ. But I notice that happened on a first day of the week and at the gathering of the saints too.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
This is the first day of the week. And though it was not yet an established truth, Jesus was there but Thomas was not. One of the reasons we gather on Sunday is because it became the practice of the Lord to meet with the disciples on the first day of the week.
But on that first, first day of the week, Thomas was missing. I don't know why; the Bible doesn't say.
• He could have been discouraged and contemplating returning to his old life
• He could have been disillusioned having witnessed the crucifixion of Christ whom He believed to be the next king in Israel.
• He could have been in hiding, wondering if that would be his fate next
Whatever the reason, we are sure it wasn't a good one. His response to the disciples when they told him they had seen the Lord is evidence of that.
And whatever our reasons for missing the assembly of the saints will not make up for the fact that we missed the Lord. People who are doubters think little of those missed spiritual opportunities. Christ is not that great of a priority to them. They doubt whether we really were blessed of God anyway, probably because they have been in some of the services when others were ministered to of the Lord and they didn't sense His presence.
Being assembled with the saints means more than being there in the flesh. We need to be there in the spirit too.
I am thankful that Thomas had a later opportunity to meet with Christ. But I notice that happened on a first day of the week and at the gathering of the saints too.
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