Recently I saw a sign
that read "Home Improvement: Take Your Family To Church." Our title
for this edition of "The Devotional" asks the question, "Why
Church?" Why do we go to church? Why is it important?
Why does church set everything else apart in our lives? What does the
Bible say about attending? What is Jesus' example? Let's take a
look and see.
Our key verse in the
New Testament is Hebrews 10:24-25.
"And
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." (NKJV)
Notice how The Message
Bible reads. "So let's do it--full of belief, confident
that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises
that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be
in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some
do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day
approaching." (The Message Translation)
The Word of God said
to not forsake our coming together. It says not to avoid worshiping
together because it spurs each other onward. We live in a society today
that chooses to magnify hurts, depression, emotional issues, and problems in
general. We live in a victim society; an issue driven society.
Sadly, that attitude has crept into the church. The Bible tells us that
some will "fall away" in the last days. When we submit to the
"world system", or the way the world is thinking, we will pull away
from the things that have remained stable and sure for generations. The local
church is one of those sure things.
The world now mocks
the church. We must be careful not to allow this world system to drive
our attendance habits through the cares and things of life and everyday living.
This way of thinking is completely apart from what the scriptures tell
us about coming together. We need to come together on a regular
basis as believers. We need to hear the preaching and teaching of the Word of
God to encourage us and help us in living a life of hope and victory.
The preaching and teaching of the Word of God helps us in having a stable
focus. It helps us as believers in being accountable as well.
The local church is a
life source for all of us. We individually need it. We see it in the book of
Acts. The church was the place where "it" was happening.
It was exploding with growth, excitement and the power of the Holy
Spirit. The church of today should exemplify that same excitement and
growth. Excitement breeds excitement. How you come to church affects the
service. When you come to church, come excited and ready, and just see
what happens and what the Lord will do.
Look at some other
verses here.
Psalm 122:1 "I
was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the
LORD." (NKJV)
Psalm 42:4 "When
I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with
the multitude; I went with them to the house of God With the voice of joy and
praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast." (NKJV)
Notice being glad to
go. Going with the multitude.
If you just do a word
search of the Bible with the words "temple" and "Jesus"
you'll find that Jesus was there, in church, over and over and over. It
was a part of His life, not just His ministry. One that I love is this
one. Luke 4:16 , "He went to Nazareth, where he had been
brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his
custom. And he stood up to read."
The Apostle Paul had
"customs" or "habits" too! Notice Acts 17:2, "As
his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he
reasoned with them from the Scriptures."
Acts 5:42 says, "And
daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach
Jesus Christ."
There are many, many
references to coming together throughout the Word of God. Being in the
sanctuary, the temple, the church, needs to be a part of our lives for so many
reasons. Let me give you some straight points as to why it's important
to you as an individual.
1. Important for
family relationships and life
The Local Church is a
very important place for family and relationships. Strong, godly
relationships "spark" you. "Iron sharpens
iron." (Proverbs 27:17) Families and
individuals learn about life and how to live it. We learn about walking
in victory and being happy. We learn about giving to our fellow man
through outreach and community projects. We learn as a family the power
of walking with Christ living big in our lives.
2. It's a community of
faith
In this community of
faith is where we gain a revelation of Jesus Christ. Church is about
growing up and maturing, not about what level you're on. It's where you
have a Pastor who ministers the Word of God to you so that you can run and step
out in faith and be a doer of the Word. Your Pastor and the other
relationships that you have are there for you in a tough time or to celebrate
the joys of your life. It's a place where we develop personal and
lasting friendships and relationships that endure a lifetime.
3. It's a
Non-threatening Place.
There are no perfect
people, but we are a people who have a perfect God. In this place you
don't have to put on a performance. Jesus loves and accepts people the
way they are. Church is that kind of place. It's a place where
people find empathy, not sympathy; a place to be lifted up and encouraged to
live for Christ.
4. It helps people
face the difficult and conflicting areas of their lives.
While dealing with
struggles, sins of the past, lack of self-confidence, and more, we learn that
the precious blood of the Lamb has been given for our freedom. It's a place where
there is comfort in a time of loss or need; a place where Jesus' arms are
spread wide through the love of a congregation of family and friends.
5. A Place of
Spiritual strength
Church is a place
where people can find out who they are in Christ and grow in the things of God.
It is a place where your giftings from the Lord can be developed and
shine. It is a place where you are encouraged and uplifted to step out
and serve the Lord. It is a place where you can be sent out to do the
calling of God that's on your life.
6. A place of
accountability.
At church we learn
about life and that we are accountable to the Lord. We establish
relationships where we are accountable to one another. Church helps in
establishing accountability in our personal walk of life and to the Word of
God, by fostering healing, evangelism, deeper faith, family roots and more.
Plain and simple, it helps keep you from becoming "flaky"!
When you are off on your own, your imagination about what's spiritual and
what's not, can go to all sorts of places that can mislead you at a time and
place in your life where you need "your" pastor and "your"
church family for life, encouragement and rock solid consistency.
7. Marriage, Family,
& Home.
You can be on your way
to church and arguing about what seems huge, but when you get to church and are
in the middle of worship, the Holy Spirit deals with you. The message
seems to be just like the Lord was personally talking with you. It
changes you and changes your home. It brings the two of you closer as a
husband and wife.
It works on your kids.
They're learning how to live for God and not just play like it.
They learn that a relationship with God is a personal experience and that it's
real.
The Bible says
to, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is
old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
As a parent, your
responsibility is to plant those seeds of training in your kids. If church
isn't important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids. If
praying is not important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids.
If giving is not important to you, don't expect them to be givers
either. You train them up... they will follow. Your emphasis will
be the foundations for not just you, but for generations to come. Fear
breeds fear. Joy breeds joy. Godliness breeds godliness.
Dads need to set that
example. Moms too! What you tolerate in moderation, your kids
will tolerate in excess. The seeds that are sown will produce when they
are older. Psalm 78 tells us that these things also pass down to their
kids, your grandkids. Generation to generation! Think and do what's important
to you, and your kids will do it too, good or bad. Galatians 6:6 says
that you reap what you sow.
Dads, how you treat
Mom is contagious. Moms, how you treat Dad is contagious. How you both
treat spiritual things is contagious too. Being in the local church helps
all of the family to grow and mature and send a message to the next generation.
As a parent, we are sending a message through our children, into a time
we will not see.
The local church is so
very important to all of us. Being around those of like faith can spark
us to greater things in God. Plug in, be active, and be excited.
Church is what we each make it to be individually. Plug in as they did
in the book of Acts and let excitement breed excitement. Today is here and now,
but the seeds of today will produce tomorrow! Amen.
Prayer: Father, I know that your Word says that a
threefold cord is not quickly broken. Being together with a local body
of believers, fellowshipping around your Word, building relationships is a
source of strength and a faith builder for my life. I choose to make
time to be hooked up with my local church family. Amen.
