We talked about “omissions” yesterday, letting go daily Bible reading in our personal life and together as a family. We shared how easy it is for the things of life to get in the way of keeping this mandate. Well, today I faced it myself again. My husband had to leave for an early appointment, and we would have missed him leading us in reading God’s word, prayer, and worship. And so, what did we do? We had our devotion time one hour earlier! We still made sure it happened.
Another omission that exposes itself today is the lack of the regular habit of going to church. Hebrews 10:25 admonishes us to “NOT FORSAKE the assembling of ourselves together.” We read in Luke 4:16 that it was Jesus’ habit to attend the synagogue every sabbath.
And yet I find that many Christians today attend church when it suits them. They are not committed. Where has commitment gone today? It seems to have vanished.
“Oh, it looks such a beautiful day today, I think we’ll go on a family picnic.”
“Oh my, we didn’t get all our chores accomplished this weekend. We better stay home and catch up.”
“I’m feeling rather tired today. I think I’ll stay home and rest.”
“We’re having a family get together today.”
On and on the excuses go. I don’t believe we should have any excuses when it comes to the weekly gathering together of God’s people. Whether you attend a house church or a big gathering, whether you worship on Sunday or Saturday, whatever you do, GO. No excuses.
You are also establishing this biblical habit in your children’s lives. When they see you are not fully committed, when they see you putting aside church for whatever happens to come up in your lives, they see that Jesus is not the preeminent One in your home. Nor are you teaching them the habit of meeting with God’s people.
And if they are used to their parents making excuses now, what will they do when they are older? Will they even bother about going to church at all.
Are you teaching your children commitment, perseverance, stickability, resoluteness, and faithfulness?
The God we serve is faithful. May we, His people, be faithful too.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
SCRIPTURES FOR YOU TO LOOK UP:
Deuteronomy 4:7-9; 31:12, 13; 29:2, 10; Joshua 8:34, 35, 2 Chronicles 20:13; Nehemiah 8:2;
Psalm 16:2, 3; 22:22, 25; 26:8, 12; 27:4, 6; 35:18; 40:9, 10; 50:5; 55:14; 65:4; 68:26; 92:13, 14; 106:47; 107:32; 111:1; 122:1; 134:2; 149:1;
Isaiah 2:3; Jeremiah 50:5; Zechariah 8:21, 22;
Matthew 18:18-20; 19:14 (Mark 9:36; 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17); Luke 4:16; Acts 2:42, 46, 47; 4:31; 14:27; 20:7, 8; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 5:4; 10:17; 12:20; 14:23, 26; 16:2; Ephesians 4:15, 16, 25; 5:30; Colossians 2:2, 19; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 3:15; Hebrews 3:15-17; 1 John 1:3. 7; 3:14, 16; 2 John 1:12; and 3 John 1:14.