It was early Thursday morning, before sunrise I mean.

Debbie and I had the car nearly packed, ready to drive from Michigan to Georgia.

And I stepped back over to the Church, where I had preached in Revival Services, over five hours of verse-by-verse exposition I am told.

I walked into the empty, quiet sanctuary, auditorium.

And it “hit,” not a rare feeling, rather quite common (to an evangelist) I suppose.

Weekly, in my case.

My heart was sad!

Yes, sad.

This set of scheduled Revival Services had come to an end.

Was over!

And I was somber, almost melancholy!

I know. There is another Revival scheduled soon, sometimes within a day or two.

New Texts (from the Bible) to preach!

A different Pastor to seek to encourage.

A new congregation, perhaps equally as eager for the Truth of God’s Word!

But still, sad!

Look at this particular Church’s Bible reading pattern for the last three years! Glory to God! Or: “the LORD be MAGNIFIED!” Psalm 40:16

There is something about being with a Bible-hungry people for a week makes you “fall in love” with them, with their desire to grow in Christ!

Is there a verse, I wondered, that makes this “feeling” feasible, Biblically permissible?

Maybe.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Philippians 1:3

I even feel this way about the folks who regularly support our Ministry, using that thought of remembrance to trigger a prayer for that individual or Church.

Even as Paul, describing himself, said to Timothy … “Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy.” 2 Timothy 1:4, “greatly desiring” means “craving” essentially!

Now let me be clear.

I had that feeling last week in Illinois.

And will next week in Alabama.

God’s people sure can “get into you heart!”

I guess in a way I fell like Paul did in 2 Corinthians 11:28. “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of ALL THE CHURCHES.” I too have a care and concern and love for “all the Churches” where God lets me preach!

I must close.

Do YOU love the Christians God has placed in your life?

Are YOU dedicated to your Pastor, his encouragement and well-being?

Do YOU miss fellow Believers in Christ when you won’t see them again for perhaps a year?

Just a thought today … on what might be called “Christian emotion,” in a (I pray) right sense!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell