Is there in us an adequate sense of the wonderful grace and favor conferred upon us in being allowed to gather together with the Lord’s people on earth? Can there be anything higher than to be thus with Him, and in communion with His own heart as to His people? Think of it. Who is He there in the midst? It is a wonderful place, and but poorly we value it, so little do we know of what its reality is. Faith sees Him there.
And then not only to be privileged to gather together thus, but think of the further favor of being of any use there; of being used by Him who loves His people with a perfect love, and whose whole heart goes out for them in their weakness, and in this day of their sorrow and rejection (a day of rejection once gone through before by Himself). It is a heart beating in harmony with His own for them, that He can take up to make any of us helpful to them. This is what we want to cultivate. We want to know His thoughts at that very moment for His gathered saints. Without this all is barrenness, all activity painful; with it even the silent prayer of the simple one—oft incapable of being framed into language—calls down His own blessing upon those who in their weakness are cast upon Him.
It is not more activity we want, as gathered to His name; it is more communion. HE is there; the people are His people. I have to remember that He wills the blessing of His people, and to say, “Who am I, to be in this place?”