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How Often Do I Have To Assemble?
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Is this really a
question of what Hebrews 10:25 means and how it applies or is it
actually a heart condition question? Dad and mom will spend
countless hours taking their children to and from some athletic
practice or activity nearly every day of the week. Folks will
spend endless hours on the internet or watching television instead of
coming to mid-week Bible study to be built up. Many folks
will re-arrange their schedule to fit around most anything, anything
except worship! Yes, with many there is a heart problem. A
problem with the spiritual heart! In seeking to find
a cure for this heart problem, let us consider the healthy heart of
some Bible people.
Joshua.
In his charge to Israel Joshua said, “…choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your
fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we
will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15). Each of us has
personal responsibility to the Lord as we are to “work out our
own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). No
matter what others do will you be found at every assembly?
We will always look to attend at every opportunity if we have a heart
like Joshua’s.
Paul.
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who were are Colosse Paul
said, “…seek those things which are above.”
(Colossians 3:2). This is to seek those things which are
heavenly. We need to be seeking after things that are heavenly
and that pertain to Christ. We know that Paul was not
“ashamed of the Gospel” (Romans 10:17) and that he was
willing to do anything to serve God. Paul was stoned, beaten,
shipwrecked, received stripes and put in prison for preaching
Christ (2 Corinthians 11:22-28). When our hearts beat like
Paul’s, we will not forsake “the assembling of ourselves
together.”
Christians of Acts 2.
The folks who responded to the powerful proclamation given by Peter and
became Christians “continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in
prayers” (Acts 2:42). To continue steadfastly in serving
the Lord requires that we have our priorities in the right order.
The fact that many before us were able to correctly prioritize means we
can too! Will we see you at every assembly?
Jesus.
The Son of God and Savior of man prayed at the Mount of Olives
saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away
from Me; nevertheless not My will, but
Work Out Your Own Salvation
The Philippian brethren were commanded to “work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil.
2:12). Salvation is an individual affair. Each
one of us is responsible for himself. I cannot obey God for you
and you cannot obey God for me. If folks are going to be saved,
they must:
Hear The Gospel (Rom. 10:17).
Believe In Christ and God (Jn. 8:24; Heb. 11:6).
Repent of Sins (Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30).
Confess Christ (Acts 8:37; Mt. 10:32).
Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38).
Live Faithful (1 Cor. 15:58; Titus 2:12).
Have you worked out your own salvation according to
the pattern set forth in the Bible? Men work out their own
salvation with obedience to the Gospel.
Yours, be done.
(Luke 22:42). An individual’s heart must be willing to deny
self to follow after Christ. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice
upon the cross. God has commanded us to be a living sacrifice
(Romans 12:1-2). Our hearts should be willing to sacrifice to
come before God and worship Him.
Many congregations have a large attendance on Sunday morning and half
that Sunday night and maybe less Wednesday evening. I am
encouraged when the attendance gap is closed. We must remember,
the Judgment awaits us all. We are built up by assembling and the
more we are away from the scheduled meeting times, the less opportunity
we have to be edified. Let us render full service and obedience
to God!
~ Keith N. Welch
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