Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…  Hebrews 10:25

“I haven’t been doing so good spiritually,” Brad confessed to his pastor. “I don’t read my Bible or pray much. My wife and I aren’t getting along, my kids are rebelling, my language is pretty rough, and I’m afraid I’m losing the lust war. I don’t know what the problem is.” Pastor Dave studied Brad’s bent head. “Haven’t seen you at church much lately,” he said. Brad shrugged. “Yeah, I know. Kids have sports, it’s my only day off, you know…” “Yeah, I do know,” Dave responded. “I think I see the problem. Did you know that your absence at church and small group is actually a sin? Let me read it to you.”

While church attendance is not a means by which we gain salvation, it is very important in spiritual growth. It’s so important that God commanded it in His word. Notice how He also linked church attendance with encouragement. This world can easily overwhelm us and we find ourselves drowning in doubt, compromise, or error before we know it. Lone Ranger Christians usually end up in a theological no-man’s land when they haven’t kept themselves accountable to spiritual authority. Without godly leadership and accountability, we start to become a law unto ourselves and imagine that every thought we have is straight from God. That’s a trick of the enemy. God’s solution is that we meet together regularly for instruction and direction.

Final Thought:  How faithful have you been to keep this command about meeting with other Christians?

Prayer: Father, I never realized faithful church involvement was a command. I haven’t been as faithful as I need to be. Please forgive me. I now commit to being accountable to other believers and my church. I need them and they need me. Amen.