For one reason or another, we’ve all experienced members of the Lord’s church not being in their usual auditorium seats before the service begins. Their empty seat or pew teaches us the following lessons:1) Some members deem something else more important than being at worship service — For some folks, it may be work; for others, it may be recreation; and for another group, it may be rest or relaxation — i.e., the “I’m too tired” crowd. What would Christianity look like today if Paul had been too “tired”? (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28).
2) Some members think they don’t need to know any more about the Lord because they know enough already — Do we know folks like that? People who believe that no one else can teach them anything about any Bible subject? For those who think they can’t learn any more about the Bible because they know enough already, we need to re-examine 1 Timothy 4:13 which directs us to continuously “.…give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
3) Some members believe they can attend church services at their convenience — How many of us who regularly attend every service of the church will stay home when non-Christian company comes to visit us? Some members will say, “Well, they hardly ever come and I hate not to visit with them.” While we fully understand their statement, it’s a poor excuse in God’s eyes. Jesus said in Matthew 10:37: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.“
Let’s ask ourselves this question: “What if Jesus had been too interested in something else to die on the Cross for humanity?” God realizes that sometimes there’s sickness or a job requirement that may prevent us from being at church services. However, when we have a choice in the matter, we have to choose God first (Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:21).
Beloved, if we haven’t already, let’s make a concerted effort to become more faithful in attendance, resolving to do better for our Lord, for our own soul, and for the souls of others (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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