Faithfully Assembling With The Saints
Every Christian must
come to understand the responsibility of faithfully assembling with the saints.
Attending all the services of the church is of grave importance to the
Christian. This responsibility cannot be taken lightly.
Indifference keeps many from
faithfully assembling with the saints. Some want to give as little service to
God as they can get by with. This
divided allegiance has caused them to feel that attending worship service is
optional instead of mandatory. Our prayer is that all will become conscious of
their obligations in serving Christ. Many need to repent, pray to God for
forgiveness and also dedicate themselves to faithfulness in attending the
worship service and in all other service to God.
Nothing can exceed the joy and
happiness to be shared in fellowship with the saints in the service of the
church. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves with our brethren whenever
they meet.
Those who truly desire heaven
as an eternal home share a great concern relative to regular attendance at all
services of the church. It would be difficult to imagine Christians having any
other attitude than that expressed by David the long ago
concerning his worship.
"I was glad
when they said to me,
'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'" (Psalms 122:1.)
Jesus is our example (I Peter
Assemble with the saints
because of your love for God. Does one prove love for God by sleeping
through Bible study time on Sunday? Or
visiting on Sunday and not being in Bible study or worship? Or when on
vacation forsaking Bible study or worship time? Those who willfully forsake
the assembly are saying to God, "God I really do not love you."
"I do not care about you." "You are not first in my life."
Assemble with the saints
because God desires and commands your attendance. God, Christ and the
Holy Spirit desire and command our faithful attendance at the assembly of the
saints. "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
works, 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.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation
of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone
who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three
witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought
worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the
covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of
grace? For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says
the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people.' It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:24-31) Those
who willfully and deliberately forsake the assembling are insulting God!
Assemble with the saints
because of your desire to put the kingdom first. "But seek first
the
Assemble with the saints
because all faithful brethren desire your presence. Willfully failing
to assemble with the saints is a discouragement to elders, preachers, teachers
and all faithful brethren. "And let us consider one another in order to
stir up love and good works." (Hebrews 10:24) Elders must watch for our
souls and give account to God. (Hebrews 13:17) Their work is made more
difficult by those who sin willfully by forsaking the assembly.
Assemble with the saints
because of your desire to have a good influence on others. "You
are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be
seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot
by men." (Matthew 5:13) Parents speak volumes to their children when they
deliberately forsake the assembly. Husbands
or wives speak volumes to their mates when they deliberately forsake the
assembly. Those who faithfully attend
all the assemblies of the saints are using their influence for God. Those who deliberately forsake the assemblies
are an influence for Satan.
Assemble with the saints
because of your desire to build up the church instead of weaken it. The
faithful love what Christ loves’. He
loves the church and wants it to be strong. "Therefore, just as the church
is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her." (Ephesians 5:24-25) Many members do not love the church
enough to be faithful. They will not even faithfully attend the services of
the church. Their indifference and neglect of the services of the church
weaken the church. Think how this must
disappoint Jesus.
Assemble with the saints
because of your desire to become a stronger Christian. "But grow
in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (II Peter
3:18) Can you imagine a person who truly
wants to grow spiritually not attending all the services of the church? Those
who willfully forsake the assembly are without hope in eternity. (Hebrews
10:24-31)
Assemble with the saints
because of your desire to go to heaven. Those who don't pray, don't
work and don't attend are committing spiritual suicide. The crown of life
awaits those who surrender their all to the Master. "...Be faithful until
death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10) A
dedication that will not get you to all the services of the church is certainly
not a dedication that will get you to heaven.
Nothing less than a living
sacrifice will do. "I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
God." (Romans 12:1-2) Strive to develop a faithfulness that will get you
to all the services of the church. Those who do this will be taking one major
step toward Heaven!