April 11

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.” — Matt 28:16

We should always keep the appointments Jesus makes with us. If we fail–we shall surely be the losers. Suppose some of our Lord’s disciples had stayed away, for some cause, from this meeting in Galilee. Think what they would have missed! They might have said: “It is such a long distance;” or, “The mountain is steep, and I will have difficulty climbing it;” or, “I fear it will rain or be stormy;” or, “Perhaps Jesus will not be there; I cannot understand how he can be risen from the dead.”

For any of these, or for other similar reasons, some might have been absent that wonderful day. But they would have missed a glorious sight of the risen Jesus, and would not have heard his words of commission and promise. To the end of their life, they would have regretted that they had not kept their Lord’s appointment that day.

Christ makes many appointments for us. Sometimes we do not think them very important, and are easily hindered from keeping them. But we never can know what we lose by these neglects. Jesus always comes where he asks us to meet him, and gives blessings there to those who have been faithful in gathering to wait for him. We do not know what we may miss, any common Sunday–by staying away from the services appointed by Christ.