“…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

The very idea of church was assembly. The assembly of the saints, in spite of all the difficulties, was of paramount importance to the survival of the early church. Faced with continual opposition and threats, they needed the encouragement of others to keep persevering in their faith. All of the negatives brought challenges to them to keep out of the public eye. Some quit the assembly to the extent that it became a habit. They no longer stayed away for a reason, but just because they weren’t in the habit of going. Imagine if our writer were here to observe the church today. Missing the assembly is no longer the habit of some but the habit of many.

Saints should be encouraging each other to be at the assembly, and at the assembly, they should be encouraging each other to good works. The early church lived in the expectation of the return of Jesus. They felt it would be soon, and in reality, it is how every generation should approach the return of Jesus. We, in our generation, especially need to develop that mindset because it has been so long that we tend to think it won’t happen in our lifetime if at all. Jesus said He would come back, and therefore He will. The problem is not a failure on Jesus’ part. He came to earth at the right time, and He will return to get His saints from earth at the right time.

Task for Today: Live today in expectancy. Live your life in the understanding that Jesus might return at any minute. Encourage others to remain faithful, for we do not know the hour or day of His return. Ask yourself this vital question sometime today, “Am I ready for His coming today?”