Of
course, I am not suggestion the age of miracles continues today (1 Cor.
13:8ff). However, it does seem almost
miraculous how some brethren so sick on Sunday make their Monday appointments
and keep their Monday work schedules. Certainly,
there are “twenty-four hour bugs” that catch people at the most inopportune
time. Those genuinely sick are certainly
excused from the Lord’s services. More
often than not, it is the case that some brethren get up Monday morning and start
their weekly work schedules and never “miss a beat.”
Is this a case of members becoming lax in their service to God? I cannot answer that question. Only each individual can do so. May we consider the following principles as admonitions to faithful service.
The Seeking God First Principle:
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33).
Christianity is not a “have to,” but a “want to” religion. We understand by Scripture that God does not
force us to do anything, but we are drawn to the Father by Jesus Christ (Jn. 6:44). This principle references the whole of our
Christianity, not just Sundays and Wednesday nights. Why would we not want to come together for
the purpose of worshipping the God of Heaven who has sent His only Son to die
for us (Heb. 2:9)?
The first converts “continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread,
and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). The
idea was that they continued steadfastly.
It is easily seen that they were seeking the kingdom of God first and
His righteousness.
The Not Forsaking The Assembly Principle:
“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” (Heb. 10:25).
Forsaking is defined as “leaving, abandoning, or deserting one.” There is the real possibility as there was in
the 1st century to leave, abandon, or desert the Lord. This is in direct relation to our faith. From the next chapter, we know that it is “impossible to please Him” without faith
(Heb. 11:6). We must ever “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”
(2 Tim. 2:15). In other words, our faith
is increased as we study God’s Word (Rom. 10:17).
In Hebrews 10:23, the inspired writer admonishes the readers to “hold fast the profession of our faith
without wavering,” and verse 24 tells us we are to “provoke one another unto love and good works” as compared to “not forsaking ourselves together…” (v.
25).
The Glorifying God In My Body Principle:
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple
of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in
your spirit, which are God's” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
As a child of God, I realize by this verse that I am no longer my
own. I was purchased; I was bought with
a price. Therefore, I must now live to
be pleasing unto my Lord. I must live in
such a way that will bring glory unto God.
Paul begged the Roman Christians to “present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). My life’s
intended purpose should ever be to “prove
what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom.
12:2).
C.S.
Lewis wrote: “[To have Faith in Christ] means,
of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you
trusted a person if you would not take his advice.” If we truly trust in God, we will want to be
present and accounted and ready to serve at every opportunity. No more of those “laxed” Sundays spent
without our Lord and His church. No more
of those “wishy-washy” Sundays spent trying to figure out if I’m going to go to
worship or not. No more of those “I
can’t get out of bed” Sundays because whatever reason is convenient. But, rather, let us “go on unto perfection”
(Heb. 6:1). Let us move forward in our
faith and trust in God to protect, love and see to our every need. Even more, we will realize this as we come
together to worship, prepared by our Bible classes (Sunday & Wednesday).
God certainly understands if we are too sick or infirmed
to worship, but if it is something else, let us “repent and turn unto God” (Acts 26:20).
