We are entering the season where we most often gather. Whether we gather for family functions, work parties, “friendsgivings” or any other reason to come together with loved ones, it’s a busy season of fellowship.
This just happens to be my favorite time of year. I love community and all that comes with it—the good, the bad and even the ugly.
As you enter into people’s homes, I want you to look for something. Look for any kind of décor that has to do with, or even says the word, “Gather.”
Have you noticed the recent trend of “Gather” home décor? My husband and I have a large wooden sign in our kitchen with the popular verse Matthew 18:20 printed on it which reads,
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.”
This verse is one thing that I advise myself, and everyone reading, that we keep in mind this holiday season.
You see, all of the “gather” paraphernalia means nothing, in my opinion, unless when you gather you do so as if the Lord is there among us. If we aren’t gathering out of love and to lift each other up, than those words are reduced to useless décor.
When we gather as believers, we should gather with the intention that, each time we come together, we leave each other better than we were before we came.
This concept shouldn’t only be applied to holiday gatherings; rather, it should be applied to our lives as Christ-followers.
In the Bible, when Jesus traveled, He did so with the intention of sharing the Gospel. As Christians, we are to be like Christ, and proclaiming the Gospel wherever we go is the biggest and best way we can glorify Him as we gather this season.
Inevitably, you will have to tag along to a party or dinner that you hadn’t originally planned to attend, or maybe you aren’t keen on some of the people present. Consider these times your time to shine as a Christian!
Resist the urge to argue politics. Resist the urge to pick a fight with your siblings. Instead, meet every opportunity for chaos with the fruits of the spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).
Gather with purpose this holiday season. Gather as if the Lord is among you and your company.