… ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Simply put, we cannot provoke one another to love and good deeds (vs. 24) unless we spend time together as Christians. It doesn’t get any clearer than that. The implications in this digitally connected day, however, are unique and significant. With the proliferation of the so-called “social media,” people can “connect” with more people, but at a much more superficial level.

Yet the problem is not to be blamed on the internet, but on the propensity of human beings, Christians included, to keep others at arms length because of our selfish, self-centeredness. Superficial relationships are not an invention of the contemporary world; it is simply easier to have superficial relationships with many more people—and thus perpetuate the notion that we have many “friends.”

So our passage today is as relevant as ever it was. Christians need to come together on a regular basis. From the beginning, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). This required being physically present with each other. To be sure, one could “encourage” another Christian through a quick e-mail or posting on a social media site. But, the in-person, physical touch, emotional posturing cannot be duplicated at a distance. The look of compassion or understanding in one’s eyes cannot be conveyed through video like with in-person interaction. Even today’s preaching has been relegated for many people to a video feed at a satellite campus. Methinks there is a loss when digital replaces live action.

If anything, digital technology is a sign that the times are advancing rapidly. Biblically, we know the day of the Lord’s return is closer than ever before. So, we need to “all the more” gather together with Christians for mutual encouragement and edification.

The frequency of assembling together is not specified, but I suspect it should be more than most Christians today are currently willing to commit. Priorities are exposed when examining our calendars. The early church met “day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house …” (Acts 2:46). Fellowship was a regular part of life. It should be so with us today. We should make it a habit to attend church on Sundays, be a regular part of small groups and gather for prayer with other Christians.

Lord, thank You for the church in which You have placed me. I commit to forming a “habit” of spending time with Christians in prayer and Bible study.