Jesus is teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day and He sees a woman in the congregation who has been disabled for 18 years.  Her body is bent over so severely that she can’t stand up straight.  Jesus lays His hands on the woman, and she is immediately healed!  She stands up straight and glorifies God!  (See Luke 13:10-13).

Now, why was this particular woman blessed with this miraculous healing?  Some might say that she was just in the right place at the right time.  In other words, she was just fortunate – fortunate to be in the same place as Jesus on that day, fortunate that He noticed her and fortunate that He decided to use her as an example to the congregation of why it’s a good thing to heal people on the sabbath day.

We, of course, don’t use the word “fortunate” when we describe what God does for us.  However, it is accurate to say that this woman was in the right place at the right time – she was in church on the day of worship.

What was she doing in church?  She certainly had a valid excuse to stay home – hey, she couldn’t even stand up straight.  And this had been going on for 18 years – it was probably getting worse and worse as time went on.  Nobody would have blamed her if she stayed home – surely God would understand, right?

But, somehow, someway, this woman made her way to church.  She must have really wanted to be there to have made that effort.  Perhaps she didn’t want to miss out on hearing the Word of God taught.  Perhaps she didn’t want to miss out on spending time with the other members of the church.  Perhaps she didn’t want to miss out on whatever blessing might occur (never dreaming of the one that would occur on that particular day!).

Whatever the reason, she knew that church was the right place to be on the day of worship.  And, recognizing her desire, God gave her the strength to be there, even when others might have thought it was impossible.

Needless to say, for us today, church is still the right place to be on the day of worship.  When you go to church:

• Perhaps you’ll be in the right place at the right time to share a testimony that resonates with members of the congregation.
• Perhaps you’ll be in the right place at the right time to show love and concern to someone who needs it at that moment.
• Perhaps you’ll be in the right place at the right time to connect with a first-time visitor.
• Or maybe, you’ll be the one who comes forward for prayer and the ministry will lay hands on you and you’ll receive an instant healing.
• Or, even if none of these occur, you’ll surely be in the right place at the right time to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Yes, there are sometimes valid reasons for missing church.  And, yes, we do have much greater electronic capabilities today that allow us to participate remotely to some extent.  But, for all of the reasons above (and perhaps a few more), we really should try our absolute best to be in church for every meeting.  God can bless us and use us to bless others when we make the effort to be in the right place at the right time.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.