Daily Devotionals

All the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate (Nehemiah 8:1).

John Donne said, "No man is an island." Nowhere is this saying truer than in a kehilah (congregation). Just as the revival in Nehemiah's day would never have occurred if the repairers of the wall had not "gathered with one accord," so we will not experience God's reviving power in our lives without uniting in him. Though Messiah loved the whole world, he spent most of his time on earth in the company of twelve disciples and seventy-two others with whom he shared his life. After his death and resurrection, this small congregation, turned the world upside down. Assisting in this revival were fellowships which sprouted up in communities everywhere the good news was shared. Messianic Jews and Gentiles were called to build close loving relationships with others in synagogues (James 2:2) and were cared for by those called to oversee the flock (1 Peter 5:2).

The Talmud has an interesting account about those who separate themselves from fellowship. The rabbis of old tell us that two angels will place their hands on them and say, "This person who separated himself from the community shall not witness its deliverance."

If you want to witness the good things God will do for those he has called you to love, stick around!

...be thankful to God for the congregation I attend. If I don't attend one now, I will ask for God's help in finding one, in order to obey Hebrews 10:25 by "not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing."

MW