It is difficult to find an express command for believers to meet together. There is an exhortation in Heb. 10, and there is the prayer of the Lord Jesus in John 17. And there is the history of the Acts of the Apostles, which abundantly proves that Christians did meet together. Even if we had very many positive commands to meet, to do so merely because it was commanded, would be to act upon command.
There is a much higher, though oft forgotten principle, which should bring Christians together. I mean the principle of new life; the out-flowing of this new life should be seen in the fact, that Christians do meet together. If I were asked, why, as Christians, we meet together, I must answer, Because we cannot help it. The disciples went to Galilee after the resurrection of their Lord, because He told them; but they needed no commandment to bring them together in the upper room at Jerusalem. Their abiding together was the necessary result of the acting of the life of Jesus, which was in them. His circumstances, their own circumstances, everything brought them together. They had hoped that Jesus was their Messiah. They had confessed this hope by following Him. He had been cut off, and they were separated from those who cut Him off: They were outcasts with Jesus. They had one common heart, one common life, one interest, one Spirit. They were necessarily together, unless forcibly kept asunder: and their reason for getting together is ours also. And if there were no hindrances forcibly tending to keep us asunder, we should all come together by the attraction of our new nature, and new circumstances, like needles to a loadstone—that is, to Christ.
The things which prevent Christians coming together are various. There are all the many systems which men have devised, counteracting the attractions of the new life. Great is the difficulty of getting out of the things that we are in, and out of which we must get, if we would gather together. It is something we are in which hinders us from coming together. Naturally Christians draw together. All in the place who really believe would be together were it not for some hindrances. All are redeemed by the same blood, anointed by the same Spirit, and united to one living Head in heaven. Union and communion are but the eternal life which is in us coining out in action. If we be in communion with our living Head, we shall not be waiting many commands to induce us to gather together; the least hint will be enough. The fact is, God has put us together, and we must, unless we be disobedient, remain together till He commands us to separate. Look at John 20, Acts 2; 4, and 20, Eph. 4, &c. G. J.