Going To Church: How Important Is It To You?
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and
to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Some Christians think they should only go to
church when it’s convenient. They believe God
is everywhere, so you don’t necessarily have to go to
church to serve or worship Him. It’s not right. Our
opening scripture expresses the importance of going
to church. It chides those who don’t and admonishes
us not to be like them.
There should be a compulsion in your heart to be
in church when you should. Cultivate that personal
discipline. God says it’s important so it must be to you
too. In the Old Testament, He said to the children of
Israel, “Thrice in the year shall all your men children
appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.
For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy
borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when
thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God
thrice in the year” (Exodus 34:23-24).
Notice what He told them; He promised them
those lands, through their fathers: Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. But the lands were occupied by enemy nations
who were naturally stronger than Israel. However, God
was going to cast out the nations from before them,
give them their possessions, enlarge their borders and
protect them. The blessing of verse twenty-four was
fully dependent on their obedience in verse twenty-
three; their being in the designated place of worship
when they should. It’s all about priorities.
This year, as you make it a priority to be present
in your church, fellowship and cell-group meetings,
God’s mighty hand of protection will rest upon all that
you do! His Word that’ll come to you will lift you, and
keep you perpetually above every evil, destruction,
hardship and terror. You’ll ride upon the high places
of the earth, walking in abundance, and in the wisdom
of the Spirit. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the opportunity to be
instructed by your Word. Not only do I provoke those in my world
to good works, I do not forsake the assembling of the church;
the blessings of fellowship with you and with fellow believers is
seen and manifested in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further study:
Psalm 133:1-3; Psalm 122:1
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Mark 2:1-22
Leviticus 9-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Matthew 14:34-15:1-9
Genesis 47