Next Sunday, Lord willing, we will begin our gospel meeting. Greg Dismuke will be bringing six lessons from the word of God over a four-day period. This is a wonderful opportunity to be encouraged, enlightened, and informed by the preaching of God's word. I hope you have made plans to attend every night.
In pondering the words, "gospel meeting," one can conclude this will be a meeting where the gospel is proclaimed, and that would be correct. What is meant by the term, "gospel?" The word appears 103 times in the New Testament. It is expressed as a message of good news: And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:15 NKJV)! The gospel of Jesus Christ can bring people true peace. Who needs peace? Everyone who has sinned against God. Therefore, this gospel meeting is intended to bring peace. This will be done through the preaching of the gospel. In a world full of bad news, won't it be great to gather together as a family for a few days to hear good news?
The term, "meeting," implies that people will come together at the same time and place for the purpose of hearing the gospel preached. This should result in edification, education, and encouragement (see 1 Corinthians 14:26,31). Edification means to build up in way of spiritual strengthening. The preaching of the word can certainly do this (cf. Acts 20:32), but the presence of every member can too. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another (Romans 14:19). Imagine the effect an absent family member has at the dinner table. When a son or daughter is frequently away with friends at those times, the parents grieve their absence. When a father is regularly absent because he is working late at the office, the rest of the family grieves over the lack of priority they have in his eyes.
While sickness, a family emergency, or some other infirmity may cause you to be understandably absent, your empty pew, for something otherwise, speaks. God told Cain that his brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground (Genesis 4:10b). It was crying out for justice. Your empty pew cries out to the Lord that you do not think being here is important enough. Your empty pew tells your brothers and sisters that you did not consider them (cf. Hebrews 10:24). Your empty pew tells the speaker that you do not respect the time, preparation, and effort he put into these lessons. Your empty pew tells the elders that you do not appreciate their thoughtfulness for your soul in planning this meeting. Your empty pew reveals your heart before the assembly.
What will your pew be saying on Sunday night, Monday night, Tuesday night, and Wednesday night of next week? Brotherly, Jamie
