For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. – Romans 12:4,5

Do you remember as a child learning this jingle regarding The Church?

“Here’s the church. Here’s the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people.”

I can still hear that little melody echoing from so many years ago. Sadly though, many of God’s people today have chosen not to attend God’s house, learn of His Word & worship together with their brothers and sisters in the faith each week.

Just this week, I read an article giving many reasons of why many people, including Christians, do not attend Church today. Here’s just a few:

1. Church services lasts too long.
2. Fear of being judged.
3. They only want your money.
4. I’ve been hurt in the church.
5. Haven’t found the right church.
6. My children’s needs aren’t being met.
7. I hate church folks but love God. (Hmmmm…)

As you can clearly see, people give all sorts of reasons  or in most cases”excuses” for not attending corporate worship each week. Please do not misunderstood and think that I am being insensitive to people’s hurts and wounds caused by others within the church in their past. My wife and I have had our share of being deeply wounded by some within the Body of Christ through the years but you know what?…that’s not Jesus. That’s just not his style or part of His character and nature. He loves you and I unconditionally as His children and would never do anything to hurt or drive us away from His presence.  We do that strictly on our own by choosing to believe the lies of the enemy who deceives us into thinking that it’s all God’s fault for the reason we’re hurting which eventually leads to distance from Him and His people…your people…your brothers and sisters in Christ who need you and the gifts you’ve been given.

My friend, if there has ever been a time when the Body of Christ needs to come together in one accord, one spirit, one mind, exalting the name of Jesus in corporate worship, its now! The enemy which comes to steal, kill and destroy knows his time is short and is releasing every wicked, evil, fiery dart and lie from his hellish domain in high places to destroy you, me and God’s people (the Church of Jesus Christ). But Praise God, Jesus has already defeated satan and every spiritual demonic force that would attempt to come against you and I at Calvary. But we need each other as the Body of Christ to stand against this defeated foe for we are much stronger when we join our faith together as one when we come together for corporate worship and study each week.

Here are a few personal reasons why I choose to worship God each week:

• I want to honor God by being obedient to His Word regarding being part of a local body of believers:

  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”Hebrews 10:25

• To engage in Public Worship

  “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psa. 122:1)
  
  How refreshing it is to be able to cease from the rat race of the daily grind to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness in the presence of His saints. After dealing with the world all week, public worship serves to revive our spirits and encourage our hearts.When we engage in public worship we are manifesting to other believers as well as the lost world at large that our Lord is worthy of our highest praise and dedication.

• To Follow the example of Christ

  “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, AS HIS CUSTOM WAS, HE WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE ON THE SABBATH DAY, and stood up for to read.” – Luke 4:16
  
  If it was customary for our Lord to be found engaging in public worship on the Sabbath day, then it ought to be customary for the elect to be found in church on the Lord’s day.

• To hear God’s Word preached and taught

  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17
  
  Not only is Christian growth a result of hearing the Word, your faith will also be nourished and strengthened through hearing God’s Word. The best place for any person, whether lost or saved, is to be consistently in attendance upon the preaching of God’s Word each week.
  

• I want to be an example to my children and grand-children

  Each time that we prepare our hearts for public worship and faithfully attend church,  we are providing a proper example to our children, grand-children, other believers, and the lost world at large. Each time we engage in public worship we are declaring to everyone our allegiance and loyalty to the cause of Christ. Every time we willfully neglect the house of the Lord our actions show that we have little respect for God and His ways.

My friend, if you are possibly one which has been neglecting attending church each week for whatever reason, from a servant’s heart, I ask that you would please make that decision now…today…and choose to ReConnect with your family which desperately need you..The Body of Christ…His Church. I can promise you this, no matter how long you’ve been away….He will surely welcome you back with Open Arms.

Remain blessed,