It’s taken me almost seven years but I’m finally to chapter 24 of The Bridge from OneDayBow, in writing about The Story Behind the Story. Keeping with my lightening-fast progression, I’m going to talk about the first two stanzas on page 105. Trust me, it’s important.

Every week Tim met with the People of the Book.

The King made them family; not based on how they look,

Where they live, or how they talk – their faith made them one.

Together they were stronger for the work of the Son.

As the chapter begins, Tim and his sister, Crissy, are getting ready for Youth Night at Church. You probably noticed it doesn’t say “Church” but that‘s what it is when the “People of the Book” come together. And right in line with that is the event’s name, “Live the Truth”.

This caused me to think about my Youth Group at Church when I was a pre-teen and teen. I was reminded of Loren and Lois, Becky and Clifford, Rob and Shara, and so many others who took their time to point myself and others to the Truth of God’s Word. And despite what some people might think, we had fun together! It was an important time in my life, and I’m so grateful to God, and them. Together, we were (are) family.

But it wasn’t just that we came to “Church”. Together, along with all other believers in Jesus Christ, we are the Church. The Bible also refers to the Church as the Body of Christ, with Christ Himself being the Head over it. Think about that for a minute. It’s amazing to consider the closeness of a family of believers in Jesus, but can you get any closer than being part of the same Body? In Jesus, we are united together in a way that is phenomenal! Not limited by location or vocation or language… Our common faith makes us one: One with our God, and one with each other.

In the New Testament of the Bible, the book of Hebrews encourages us to persevere in our faith, encourage others to exercise their faith, and come together regularly:

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Did you catch the promise at the end of verse 25? Jesus is coming again! Together, we who belong to Him will be with Him forever! And so, as Christians, we should value our opportunity to be together now and do so as often as possible. It’s a beautiful foretaste of eternity together with our Lord.