October 13th 2019
Is Attendance Of A Church A Good Habit?
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Can God be worshipped outside of a Church? Of course, the answer to this question is yes! However, when we are in the world, and alone, do you think about worshipping God? Be very honest with yourself on this answer, as it relates to a comparison to corporate worship in a church of your choice. Recently, I heard someone say that attendance in a church cannot save you, and of course, I agree with that statement. Then this question came to me, why would someone who has been awarded salvation, not want to be with other people who have also been given their salvation?
In the selected verses, in verse 5, it states, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” Have you established a habit of worshipping Jesus wherever you are, doing whatever you are doing, every day? If you answer yes to this question, then you do not likely need any help or support from people who have obtained their salvation, so then, you do not need to attend a church! Have you ever thought as your church being a support group? If you answered no, then you likely do not need to attend a church. However, a church certainly needs you to attend to help the other attendees. All people who attend a church are not perfect, actually they are sinners. The same is true of those who do not attend a church regularly!
Are all habits bad? Most of the time when the word habit comes up we think of some bad or obnoxious trait that we are trying to correct. However, some habits are very good. Such as the habit some people have of attending a church of their choice every Sunday. What about you, do you have a habit of reading God’s Word every day? If your answer is no, then the next question for you is, why not? Most of us have some bad habits, and some of us have created some good habits too. In order to do anything on a regular basis, you need to make it a habit, or it will not get done! At least, that has been my experience in life!
Of course, now some of you are going to say, well I just do not have enough time to read the Bible every day! If this is your answer, please realize you are telling that to God, not just thinking it, as you read this commentary! Does God accept your answer, when you say you do not have time to read His Word every day? Are you willing to accept your answer? Enough said, “I do not have time for God every day!” Our responsibility toward family, friends, and our profession, are very important, and we do need to form the good habits of keeping these responsibilities too!
So what words did Jesus have to express His view about the importance of family for people who chose to follow Him? "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37). Do you love people more than you love Jesus? Are the “things” of this world more important to you than your relationship with Jesus? Do not let these questions disturb you too much, but do consider what Jesus said, when you start to form your important daily habits!
In our daily attempts to become more Christ-like we need to rely on the Holy Spirit, and we need His guidance so our daily routine allows us to form the habit of reading the Scriptures, and this Spirit also pushes us toward a habit of praying. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27). Do you allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for you to form a daily habit of prayer?
Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Rome about how they needed to function as a support group for other members. Paul wrote, Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:10, NLT) Paul also wrote to the church in Ephesus about the fact that salvation is a gift, and no amount of worship of God or anything else you can do, whether inside or outside of a church, can save your immortal soul. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Only faith in Jesus can save your soul nothing in nature can offer salvation. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. (John 6:47)
When you have been saved, in spite of your sinful nature, inherited from Adam’s sin, then it is natural for you to desire the loving company of other people who have been given their salvation too. We are a part of God’s creation, and as such, we desire companionship, and it only makes sense to desire the companionship of others who have been awarded salvation. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4)
In answer to this question posed by this writer of Psalms God sent His one and only Son into this world to die for your sins. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)
I once asked who limited God to having only one Son, and did not receive an answer at that time. Now, I know that this was not a limit, but an absolute answer, as there can be, and there is only one Savior of the world. Are you following this Savior, and have you committed your life in this world to Him? If you have, then why would you not want to be surrounded by others who have done the same? Please “take time to be holy” this Sabbath day, and attend a church of your choice to be surrounded by the love of Jesus. God is Love, and He would like to see you surrounded by Love, wherever you might be on Sunday.
Jesus promised to be there too, but He may not be in a local forest, expecting to see you in a worshipful state. “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). Note here Jesus does require more than one be present. Of course, Jesus is everywhere, and will honor any individual prayer!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Can God be worshipped outside of a Church? Of course, the answer to this question is yes! However, when we are in the world, and alone, do you think about worshipping God? Be very honest with yourself on this answer, as it relates to a comparison to corporate worship in a church of your choice. Recently, I heard someone say that attendance in a church cannot save you, and of course, I agree with that statement. Then this question came to me, why would someone who has been awarded salvation, not want to be with other people who have also been given their salvation?
In the selected verses, in verse 5, it states, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” Have you established a habit of worshipping Jesus wherever you are, doing whatever you are doing, every day? If you answer yes to this question, then you do not likely need any help or support from people who have obtained their salvation, so then, you do not need to attend a church! Have you ever thought as your church being a support group? If you answered no, then you likely do not need to attend a church. However, a church certainly needs you to attend to help the other attendees. All people who attend a church are not perfect, actually they are sinners. The same is true of those who do not attend a church regularly!
Are all habits bad? Most of the time when the word habit comes up we think of some bad or obnoxious trait that we are trying to correct. However, some habits are very good. Such as the habit some people have of attending a church of their choice every Sunday. What about you, do you have a habit of reading God’s Word every day? If your answer is no, then the next question for you is, why not? Most of us have some bad habits, and some of us have created some good habits too. In order to do anything on a regular basis, you need to make it a habit, or it will not get done! At least, that has been my experience in life!
Of course, now some of you are going to say, well I just do not have enough time to read the Bible every day! If this is your answer, please realize you are telling that to God, not just thinking it, as you read this commentary! Does God accept your answer, when you say you do not have time to read His Word every day? Are you willing to accept your answer? Enough said, “I do not have time for God every day!” Our responsibility toward family, friends, and our profession, are very important, and we do need to form the good habits of keeping these responsibilities too!
So what words did Jesus have to express His view about the importance of family for people who chose to follow Him? "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37). Do you love people more than you love Jesus? Are the “things” of this world more important to you than your relationship with Jesus? Do not let these questions disturb you too much, but do consider what Jesus said, when you start to form your important daily habits!
In our daily attempts to become more Christ-like we need to rely on the Holy Spirit, and we need His guidance so our daily routine allows us to form the habit of reading the Scriptures, and this Spirit also pushes us toward a habit of praying. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27). Do you allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for you to form a daily habit of prayer?
Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Rome about how they needed to function as a support group for other members. Paul wrote, Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:10, NLT) Paul also wrote to the church in Ephesus about the fact that salvation is a gift, and no amount of worship of God or anything else you can do, whether inside or outside of a church, can save your immortal soul. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Only faith in Jesus can save your soul nothing in nature can offer salvation. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. (John 6:47)
When you have been saved, in spite of your sinful nature, inherited from Adam’s sin, then it is natural for you to desire the loving company of other people who have been given their salvation too. We are a part of God’s creation, and as such, we desire companionship, and it only makes sense to desire the companionship of others who have been awarded salvation. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4)
In answer to this question posed by this writer of Psalms God sent His one and only Son into this world to die for your sins. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)
I once asked who limited God to having only one Son, and did not receive an answer at that time. Now, I know that this was not a limit, but an absolute answer, as there can be, and there is only one Savior of the world. Are you following this Savior, and have you committed your life in this world to Him? If you have, then why would you not want to be surrounded by others who have done the same? Please “take time to be holy” this Sabbath day, and attend a church of your choice to be surrounded by the love of Jesus. God is Love, and He would like to see you surrounded by Love, wherever you might be on Sunday.
Jesus promised to be there too, but He may not be in a local forest, expecting to see you in a worshipful state. “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). Note here Jesus does require more than one be present. Of course, Jesus is everywhere, and will honor any individual prayer!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak