We need each other...

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
-- Hebrews 10:23-35

The context of these verses is talking about what our response should be to God. God provided His only Son as the only perfect sacrificial Lamb to take away the sins of the world. How should we respond? The author of Hebrews tells us in 10:23-25.

We all know people that this passage applies to. We know people who do indeed forsake the assembling together. But before we get self-righteous and point fingers at Sister Sue-more-pious-than-you, we need to take a look at our own lives in light of God's word. This passage does not only talk about the assembling together, but also the encouragement of a church family for us to do good. When you have had a particularly draining week, know that you can get recharged in fellowship with God's people.

That great prince of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, said it better than I can: "The church of God is not to be a haven for saints, but a hospital for sinners." When we are beat up by the world, we come to the church to be patched up and encouraged before we go back to battle. How often have you woken up on Sunday morning and thought how much easier it would be to sleep in? How tempted have you been to not come to church because you were too tired to get anything out of it? I believe there are two reasons to push through our fatigue in order to be together as a family of God:

1) We should push through in order to be encouraged ourselves. We are refreshed and revived when we can gather and listen to all that God is doing in the life of His church. We get excited to know that God is at work. It will lift your spirits and energize your emotions to come and worship and fellowship with God's people.

2) Even if we aren't encouraged ourselves, our hearts should be looking for ways to encourage others. You may not need encouraging. You are fine and dandy this week. Some exciting things have happened. God has blessed you in miraculous ways. Your brothers and sisters in Christ need to hear about this great week. They need to hear you praise God for His work in and around and through you.

I honestly believe there are people in both of these categories every week at a church gathering. There are those who need encouraging and those who need to encourage. As a matter of fact, I doubt that there is ever a week when every Christian is not in one of those two categories.

So, this Sunday when you look at the clock and think about whether or not you can make it to church. Remember what God said through the author of Hebrews and go to church. You need it and so does every other Christian.

See you in church.