A few more thoughts about church going. I believe the gathering together of God’s people is not an option, but a command in God’s Word. Yes, I am sure you know Hebrews 10:25.

This last week I was also challenged from 2 Chronicles 29:6, 7: “For our fathers have trespassed and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God and have forsaken him, and have TURNED THEIR FACES AWAY FROM THE HABITATION OF THE LORD, AND TURNED THEIR BACKS. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense, nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.”

The habitation of the Lord was the tabernacle where they came to meet with God. We must never turn our faces from the house of God. When we choose to do something else rather than gather with the saints, we turn our faces away from God Himself. We turn our backs on Him.

I am amazed at how many excuses people use to forsake the weekly gathering of God’s people.

Visitors arrive. “Oh, we better stay home.” No, bring your visitors with you.

“It’s such a glorious day. Too good to be inside. Let’s have a family picnic. It will be such a great family thing to do.” No. When you turn your face away from the gathering of God’s people, you turn your face away from God.

“I’ve got a headache today. I don’t feel so good. I think I’ll stay home.” No, the place to get healed is in the presence of God where His people are gathered.

“Nobody talks to us at church anyway, so why should we go?” Put a big smile on your face and talk to others. Don’t wait for them to talk to you. If you feel too shy to speak with adults, talk to children. Give some children a big smile, a blessing, and a hug.

Let’s put away all these feeble excuses. Even if we have to sacrifice, we keep to our commitment. Luke 4:16 tells us that it was Jesus’ habit to go to the synagogue every sabbath day. His parents established this habit in his life. This is a habit that we must instill in our children. It’s not something we do if we feel like doing; we do it because it is God’s plan! And we exemplify this habit to our children.

God’s fierce wrath was on the Israelites because they turned their faces away from His tabernacle. Conversely, we cannot expect God’s blessing upon us when we disregard the habitation of His house. When we turn our backs on God’s people, we turn our backs on God.

Psalm 65:4: “We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”

Psalm 84:3, 4: “Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.”

Psalm 92:13: “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.””

Psalm 106:47: “Gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in the praise.”

Psalm 111:1: “I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.”

Isaiah 2:3: “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

Jeremiah 50:5: (NKJV): “They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it saying, ‘Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten.’”

Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“I thank You, dear Father, that You love us to come into Your house with all Your saints. You love us to come as families with all our children, even our toddlers and babies. You love the gathering of Your people. Please help us to be a family that loves the house of God. Help me to give my children a love for your house and the gathering of Your people. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

“Come on, children, let’s go! We are going up to the “mountain of the Lord” where He will teach us of His ways.