“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (encouraging) one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.”
This text is commonly used to remind people of the importance of attending church, and rightfully so. But it is asking more than that of us. I think one of the problems with the Christian faith is that many people think that attending church is all that is required of them. We should see attending church like taking our cars to the gas station – we go there to get filled for life out in the world. Church attendance is important, but it is not the end, it is the means to an end. It is important that we get together. Let’s look at a few of the reasons why it is important. We need to get together to worship the Lord. I am aware that we can worship the Lord at home as well as at church. The fact is that we should personally worship the Lord each day. Worship does not take a formal setting. You can worship God driving down the road. (Just keep your eyes on the road.) You can worship God from the sanctuary of your den, your bedroom or your living room. But, still, the bible tells us here “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." This tells us that we need to get together to worship the Lord in our common experience of Jesus. One of the main tenets of the Christian faith is that we worship God together. At one point in my life, during an extended illness, I was unable to get together with God’s people at the appointed times. I worshiped God in solitude and heard more preaching on TV than I would have heard, or done, when I was well. However ,it was a great day when I was able to go back to church and worship with God’s people. We need to get together to do battle with Satan. If we are to serve as God’s army in the world, we can’t do it by always doing our own thing without consideration for anyone else. Jesus died to save individuals, but He also shed His blood for His church – His people. Here is what Paul said about the matter in Acts 20:28: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood.” It was, and is, important that the church be fed, because “He has purchased (us) with His own blood.” It is important to that we serve the Lord through His church, because “He has purchased (us) with His own blood.” It is important to serve the Lord at work, at school, at play, or wherever, but that does not preclude the importance of serving the Lord together. If we desire to be God’s Christian soldiers, we have to march together. We need to get together to encourage one another. Encouragement has two faces; one is to be encouraged to overcome depression and discouragement. Another is to be encouraged to stop doing things that we should not do. My experience in the church, which has been a part of my life for most of my life, has included both of these aspects of encouragement. Through my fellowship with God’s people, I have been encouraged when I was discouraged, and I have been encouraged to do better with my life. The hymns that we sing at church are written to encourage us. The sermons that we hear in church are used to encourage us to overcome discouragement and to challenge us to do better than we are doing. Preaching and teaching in the church should do both. These are three reasons, among many more, why we should get together. Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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