There are times when I want nothing more than to nestle down and hide from the world.  Just me and Jesus.  Time to reflect and ponder and pray.  Time to sort out all the crazy string of my thoughts.

Those times are precious to me.  I need them to refuel me, body, mind and soul to head back out there and live and give fully.

But what if that was all I did?  What if I hibernated in that place and “hermitized” myself? Would it be good for others?  Would it impact the world around me?  Would it benefit others?

God tells us, through the writer of Hebrews, that we should “not give up meeting together… but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)  I think we misunderstand the reason we are meant to get together.  It’s not to hear a thought-provoking and inspiring sermon, although that’s awesome.  It’s not to hear powerful and emotion-provoking music, although I love that. Those are additional means to get us to why we’re really there. We are there to “encourage one another”.  We are supposed to get together to remind each other Whom we serve and why we serve Him.  We are there to support each other and remember that we are a part of the same team that  wants to live out the love of Jesus every single day to every single person we meet.

My husband, Mark, is the district manager to a group of representatives that go out to share the great news of a product that can change the lives of people with crippling arthritis.  As the manager, Mark instructs and teaches  his people the information that they need to share to let others in on this amazing product.  As they go out to there respective territories, their little parts of the world, they share that information in their own way, based on their own personalities and style.  The information is the same, but the way they present it may be different.

Every so often, they each spend time alone with Mark and share their results and look to him for more coaching.  But they also connect with each other – to share ideas, to “spur one another on” and to encourage each other when the going gets tough.  Their time alone with Mark is not enough.  They need the input and feedback of others as well.

Tonight is the annual company Christmas Party.  I will get to see that camaraderie tonight as they eat and drink and talk and laugh together, celebrating another year of success as a team and enjoying one another’s company.

We could take a lesson from them.  We don’t go to church to gain spiritual brownie points.  Our goal is not to impress God with a perfect attendance record.  We go there to face a new week, locking arms and re-energizing each other to go out there and love God and people with abandon.  Whether we meet together in a church building, a restaurant, or a home, our goal is the same….to encourage one another.  To remind each other.  To strengthen our team mates.

Alone time is important.  Essential even.  But we need others and they need us.  The world needs us.  And Jesus asks us to go.  Unalone. Together…

Acts 2:46-47 – Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke breadin their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.