But How Can One Be Warm Alone?

It was particularly cold in our part of the world at the week's start; snow had fallen during Sunday evening’s service and was followed by a clear, moon-lit sky and falling temperatures. I wondered if we would be quorate for the following night’s Annual General Meeting and accompanying members’ meeting as the Apologies whizzed in and others nervously assessed the state of the roads. Thankfully, we had a good turnout. In contrast to the freezing temps outside (-11 according to the car on the journey home), the atmosphere within was warm and united. We accepted six more people into chapel membership, which was an encouragement seeing as we had lost four since the last meeting, including one who has emigrated to balmy Australia and another who was translated to glory on Christmas Day.

Arriving home, I turned on a radiator and retired early to bed. Church life is not always easy as we each fight the good fight within our own hearts, against the world, the flesh and the devil. Yet when God’s people are united in love, united by truth and united for Jesus Christ, the world can plummet to whatever chilly depths it sees fit, for true Christian fellowship is a foretaste of that temperate and mild land beyond the grave.

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? Ecclesiastes 4:11

I went to bed happy and warm.

A. D.