Gather Together

This week we welcomed 24 new members to our family. Yes, that seems like a lot, but when they’re each only about 1-½ inches tall they don’t take up much space! They do make an awful lot of noise, however!

Now, don’t worry. We didn’t go and adopt an orphanage or something. Ana just decided it was time to refresh her flock, so now we have a couple dozen soft, cuddly, baby chicks in a large box in our spare bedroom.

One thing I’ve noticed about these little bundles of feathers is they stick together. They get as close as they can to each other when they’re feeling cold or they’re frightened. They eat together, sleep together, and they are constantly talking to each other.

The chicks remind me a lot of Luke’s description of the early Christian church. Acts 2:44 says, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” They prayed together, shared with each other, and “ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”

It didn’t matter what their social status, how much money they had, or what other differences they had. What mattered was what they had in common – a deep love for God and the determination to share Jesus with the world. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (v. 47).

If we want to see our churches grow, for God to start adding to our “number daily those who are being saved”, then it’s time for us to start acting like the chicks in our back room. It’s time for us to put aside our differences and realize we need each other. We need each other’s support, prayers and companionship, because “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

We need to spend less time bickering and more time studying together, eating together, and praying together. We need to remember Jesus promised, “…where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20). I don’t know about you, but wherever Jesus is is exactly where I want to be.

This Sabbath, let’s follow the example of our chicks and the early Christians and gather “together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God.” (Acts 2:46 and 47). Let’s draw together and “Carry each other’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2). Let’s keep each other warm in this cold and lonely world.

Baby chicks know being together is a lot warmer place than being alone. It’s time we learned that lesson too.

God bless and have a Happy Sabbath!