SPENDING TIME WITH THE LORD AND OTHER BELIEVERS

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“If you love me, keep my commands.”
(John 14:15)

MEDITATION:
I recently saw an article on why Christians should be faithfully attending 
church that I felt inspired to share in lieu of a devotional for today.

In a culture that minimizes commitment and maximizes self-indulgence, 
we are given the opportunity of attending church with other believers. 
Church attendance should not be viewed as a burden, or legalistic commitment. 
It should be a joy to be in a place where we can give and serve; 
a place where we can focus more on others than we do on ourselves.

Here is a list of ‘only’ ten reasons 
why we should joyfully and consistently attend church:

1.  We should attend church to serve others. 
     There is much greater joy in serving than waiting to be served. 
     We have many opportunities to serve within the church 
     and these opportunities are our gifts from God.

2.  We should attend church to encourage others. 
     Our world has an incredible assortment of digital communications, 
     but there is still something irreplaceable about gathering together. 
     When we encounter someone in person at church, 
     we have an opportunity to encourage him or her physically, in person.
     This gives us a chance to see how our encouragement is received, 
     accepted, and the impact it has on the other person.
     It also assures them of our love and concern for them and their welfare.

3.  We should attend church to encourage our pastor. 
     Many of us may not realize how much our pastors 
     serve us and love us seven days a week. 
     The least we can do for our pastor 
     is to be there in person when we gather as a church. 
     If we want our pastors to have the gift of encouragement every week, 
     then we need to encourage them with our presence.

4.  We should attend church to make a statement of our priorities. 
     If we are able to go to work, school, vacation, or to watch 
     and be involved in sports, then certainly we can attend church. 
     Our lives should include a “no excuse” clause for attending church.
     Some will sit outside in an open stadium when it’s cold and rainy to watch a 
     sporting event, but a cloudy sky is enough to keep them away from church.
     Jesus promised a place for us in Heaven, and He has a place for us 
     on earth as well – it is called God’s house (aka the church).
     My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have 
     told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go 
     and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with 
     me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3)

5.  We should attend church to participate in worship. 
     There is something special and Spirit-filled 
     about worshipping together with other Christians. 
     It is both an opportunity and gift that should not be taken lightly.
     Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, 
     there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

6.  We should attend church even if it doesn’t meet all our needs. 
     If we say, “I am not getting fed spiritually”,
     it likely means we are not spiritually hungry. 
     If our church does some things a bit differently than what we prefer, 
     we need to realize that we are there, not as a consumer, but as a giver, 
     and one who has been called to put others’ needs before our own. 
     No church is perfect; no worship style is perfect; 
     no pastor is perfect, and neither are we.

7.  We should attend church with frequency, not occasionally.
     We should have a complete dedication to be in my church every Sunday. 
     And when we are out of town, we can find other churches to attend. 
     We should never be guilty of saying, “I need a break from church”. 
     We would not want God to take a break from us, would we?

8.  We should attend church to set an example for our family. 
     Couples have healthier marriages when they attend church together. 
     Children also benefit when their parents take them to church. 
     We need to show the importance and priority of church attendance 
     to those we love in addition to our friends 
     and others who watch us to see if our faith is real.

9.  We should attend church because the Bible tells us to do so. 
     A lot of the New Testament is about churches, 
     and how believers gathered together. 
     The words of the writer of Hebrews in 10:24-25 are powerful reminders 
     to those who have claimed to be followers of the Lord: 
     “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and 
     good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of 
     doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the 
     Day approaching.”

10.  We should attend church because we have developed a love for our church.
       We should love our church, love our pastor, love the members of 
       our church, and love the community our church serves. 
       If we sincerely love someone, we will be there for them. 

It is becoming increasingly common 
for people to consider church attendance as just another activity. 
It has become an option among many who have chosen it 
as a place to get consumer preferences met, or a place to infrequently 
attend, and when they do, they fail to interact with other believers.

ACTION:
It is popular for some to argue that church attendance is not 
a high priority because the building is not a church, the people are. 
However the One we follow has commanded His followers to gather together. 
When we are His followers, we will obey His instructions and commands.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me if I am guilty of failing to meet with 
other believers in obedience to Your command to do so. Help me to 
make a commitment to give church attendance a high priority in my life. 
Remind me that since Jesus suffered on the cross for three hours 
to show His love for me, I can surely sit in a climate controlled church 
for 1-2 hours to show my love for Him. Help me to realize that whether 
or not my attendance impacts others, my absence certainly does.” 

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