Thoughts on Gathering, Pruning and are you a Glass Half-full or Half-empty Sort of Person?

by Dan Moore

We are now rolling into our second year of “What do we do with COVID-19?” There are great differences in opinion concerning gathering, not gathering, where is it OK to gather and on and on. The following verse has often been used concerning church gatherings:

Hebrews 10:25, “Not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

I am particularly drawn to the “as some are in the habit of doing” portion. We all know people or are people who have “fallen out of the habit of going to church.” I know ministers who are concerned about recovery from the COVID-19 “excuse.” So WHY does Hebrews warn against forsaking gathering? Interestingly it is not so our attendance figures look good, and it is not just so the preacher can preach to friendly faces. The preceding verse couches the reason for the need to gather:

Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.”

We need strength and encouragement to be spurred on to love and good deeds.

In John, Jesus gives us His great “I Am” series which includes John 15:1, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.”

In my life, much of that pruning has happened at church. That very gathering, spurring on to love and good deeds, has pruned away some of the non-productive things in my life. Also, times of separation from Christian friends and church have resulted in my branch becoming a little more wild and unruly. How Scripture links and works together!

Lastly, when asked if I am a glass half-full or half-empty guy, I think of David as he said in Psalm 23:5, my cup overflows.

Connected to Christ, the true vine, gathering with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and knowing assuredly that “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,” means my cup is perpetually overflowing.

Author Bio
Dan has worked 45 years in the trucking industry and has been privileged to serve as a Bible study leader at both Council Road and at First Church TA – OKC (truck stop ministry that is supported by CRBC). He has also authored Christmas and Easter dramas, including last year’s Christmas book for children.