November and December is a busy time, but also a special time.  Special because we tend to be more intentional about getting together with family and friends.  Remembering too those that have passed away, out of our lives, but not out of our memory nor heart.  One sign of a healthy family is that you desire to be together, as dysfunctional at times we may be.  All families have their “issues”, but that doesn’t keep us apart.   One sign of a healthy Christ follower is that they desire to be with their church family, brothers and sisters in Christ.   In fact, Jesus says those relationships should be even closer!  Why is it so many forsake the assembly (ecclesia)?

Why? - when Jesus built His church, purchased at calvary.  Why? - when the Apostle Paul demonstrated the importance  of the ecclesia by planting churches.  In fact, of all the things Paul suffered, his greatest concern - “besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches (cf. 2 Corinthians 11: 28).  Why? - when the writer of Hebrews exhorts christians to hold fast their confession, “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.” (cf. Hebrews 10: 24-25)   I’ve heard all the excuses, if fact in my past I invented some of those excuses, but they’re just excuses and don’t hold weight when measured against the whole counsel of God’s word.

I pray as “professing believers”, we are not guilty of “forsaking the assembly.”  Go to church this Sunday.  One that preaches the whole counsel of God’s word and lifts up Christ!

In His Service,

Pastor Rodney