“Do I Have To?”
Do I have to worship God or collectively grow in studying His word? Do I Have to commune with Christ and with the saints every service? Do I have to stimulate my spiritual family to love and do good works? Do I have to want to be here more than any other place at those proverbial “appointed times”? Do have to give every first day of the week, whether I’m at church or not?
Just as Jesus did not HAVE to go to the cross, God did not HAVE to demonstrate His love towards us as a spiritual community to encourage us on to heaven, and He did not HAVE to have the church in mind from eternity to give us a spiritual community to encourage us on to heaven, and He did not HAVE to give us a book that will keep us unspotted from the world.
We used to use the phrase “providentially hindered.” By that was meant that circumstances beyond our control prevented our attending worship services. This would include health problems, unavoidable work demands, and car problems. It was usually made clear in preaching, that entertaining company and family, engaging in leisure activities, volunteer-ing for overtime at work, kids ball games and cheerleading camps, which led one not to attend fell into the category of poor choice and misplaced priorities. Yet, I think, because the majority of Christians do not have their hearts in the right place, such members settle into a lifestyle for lack of being challenged, reminded, and encouraged. And that’s our job as faithful Christians, to encourage those who Satan has deceived otherwise.
The assemblies are special. Each and every service, including Sunday and Wednesday nights, are meaningful, powerful, and fruitful even those services that are attended at personal sacrifices.
I want you to want to attend. I want you to love going. But it’s not my choice. However, it is yours. Please make up your mind to be at every service. That very change in attitude and approach to faithfulness per God’s Word can transform you into a new person in Christ!
(Hebrews 10:25) 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Submitted by Gary Culbreath