By Thomas Hastings, B.A., G.Th.
Luke 24:36 “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (45) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (49) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (50) And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. (51) And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (52) And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: (53) And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”
1. We Should Attend Church So That We Can Have Fellowship With Jesus Christ.
Luke 24:36 “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”
Do you not need the peace of God? Who was there when He blessed them, gave them peace and revealed Himself in such a glorious way? Without doubt, it was His disciples, His Church. Perhaps you think, “But of course, who would otherwise be there?” That is exactly the point: Only those who desire to be where our Lord will reveal Himself and who go to the effort to be there, will be where the Lord can fully bless them. Our Lord gave an invitation to all: Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” All could have been there, but most people chose not to be there. That is difficult for me to understand. Why don’t they want to be there?
John 12:42 “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: (43) For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Those who, despite their believing on Christ, failed to openly confess Him due to the fear of what others would think or do (or out of negligence), will indeed regret their cowardice in eternity! What damage they did to their own souls, and what dishonor they did to the cause of Christ! How shameful it is when we let anything keep us from confessing and obeying our Lord! It was a great loss for literally thousands that missed out on seeing our resurrected Lord, His blessing upon them and His ascension up to heaven.
It was each individual’s choice, and today it is no different. Even among the Apostles the choice was no different. In the 20th chapter of John, they assembled themselves on the first Sunday after His resurrection as became the common practice of the New Testament churches, (1 Corinthians 16:2). As Jesus Christ revealed Himself to them and strengthened them, the only living Apostle not attending was Thomas. Evidently he had other things to do that were more important to him, and thus he remained a week longer in doubt than the other Apostles. I want to experience as much of Jesus Christ as possible. That is one reason that I regularly attend the services of biblical Baptist churches.
Is not Jesus Christ always with His children?
As our Savior, He is eternally with and in His children. Jesus said, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28. Although this truth is unshakable, we dare not neglect the promise of His particular presence in our Church meetings: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. It was to His Church that Jesus gave that promise in Matthew 28:20 “ . . . lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” There is no question that we experience more of God’s blessings when we assemble ourselves in His name. I love my Lord and plan to be there where He reveals Himself.
A Church is precious to God and us.
God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked, that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 1 Corinthians 12:26 “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
We see that in a true Church, as described above, it is not only precious to God and to us, but that it is very useful. “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;” Dear friend, we all have our problems and suffering on earth. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to overcome them alone! The burden of being alone and isolated is for many the biggest problem they have. There is a German saying, “A shared life divides the work and suffering, but multiplies the joy.” This saying is indeed true in Christ and in His Church.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (10) For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. (12) And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
God also described this in Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We have the opportunity to experience and reveal the love of God in and through the Church. When we love, serve and follow Jesus Christ, we not only need the Church when we suffer, but also when we rejoice: “or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” When our Lord gives us victories as we follow Him, with whom are we to rejoice? When your child gets saved, you can go to your lost neighbor and report it, but don’t expect much understanding from him! A person outside of Christ cannot understand it.
We are created by God for fellowship with Him and also with others in a Church. Without a loving Church, our life in the Lord would be limited and lonely. Good examples are the street children growing up without the protection, training and love of a family. They have life and are important, but few would say that they experience the life that God intended for them. Just as a child needs a family, every child of God needs a true Baptist Church.
Our love to others is very important. 1 Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” Love is so important that Jesus Christ said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35. He emphasized this love when He said, “. . . Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40. Our Lord desires that we experience His love, and that we express it to each other and those around us in the fellowship of His Church. It is a sobering thought that how we have treated one of the least of these, my brethren, is how we have also treated our Savior! Our Lord also expressed it thus, 1 John 4:20 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not see? (21) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
The love of God must sometimes be hard, as when Jesus drove those out of the Temple who had changed it from being a house of prayer into “ . . . a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13. Our Lord also instructed preachers: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2. Much the same as a mother who loves her child enough to warn it and do what is necessary to keep it out of the street, even so a Church must protect her members by warning them against sin that will harm the testimony and harmony of the Church, then the Church must remove such a member. This is, of course, always to be done in love with the view to restoration. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (15) Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” (Review2 Thessalonians 3:6–15.)
How can we show the world that we are His disciples, if we do not come together in His Church? Everywhere in the New Testament that souls were saved, they were baptized and churches were formed! Some people think that they really love the Lord, but they have no use for His Church. If a man says that he loves his wife, but spends all of his free time away from her, is he not being a hypocrite? How can a person love the Lord, yet have no love for His Church? It is possible that a person has never known a true Church. How can you find a true Church ? You can write to me, and I will help as far as I can. In any case, you need to read your Bible, pray and seek. Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
God promises much blessing and protection for His Church
Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (Jesus Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
There are many promises that God has given to His Church, and I want to meet God’s qualifications so that I may claim them for my family and myself.
2. We Should Attend Church So That Our Prayers Will Be Answered.
Jesus Christ promised us: “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19. There are many different conditions for successful prayer, for example: 2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 29:13,14; Mark 11:24; John 15:7; James 5:16; 1 John 3:22 . God has promised to hear the prayers, especially from His house, “Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:15.
A scriptural Baptist Church is now His house. “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15. In answer to a Church’s unified prayer in the New Testament, believers were freed from jail, the sick healed, the lost saved and our Lord God was glorified! Since God gives such attention to unified prayer in Church, then I want to be there to claim His working for my family, friends, neighbors and souls around the world.
3. We Should Attend Church Because We Need the Preached Word.
Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Many of God’s children wonder why their growth, joy and blessings in the Lord come so slowly. God’s Word promises so much, but they experience so little. “Why can’t they stand and witness in power and joy like New Testament disciples?” It is with deep sorrow that I think upon too many people, that claim with their lips to have received Christ as Lord and Savior, yet now take part in no Church services at all.
Are these really saved? It is possible that they are, even as worldly Lot is declared “just” by God in 2 Peter 2:7 “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:” As before mentioned, a child of God needs a Church just as a child needs a family so they can be protected, corrected and loved! Just as many people never become mentally mature and useful, sad to say many children of God never become mature, obedient and fully blessed of God.
It is also important to state that not all preaching will help. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. Not all preaching has the Word of God as its sole basis. Most “churches” do not even use God’s proven and preserved Word, the King James Bible (Authorized Version), but they use perversions with literally thousands of omissions and changes that take away from the Deity of Christ. Others may use a Bible passage or verse as a springboard to start the message and then fill the message with philosophy, psychology, worldly and religious attitudes. Such “preaching” will destroy true faith in Jesus Christ, rather than impart it! It is without worth in the reaching of souls for Christ and the glorification of God!
Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
The message of the New Testament was always Jesus Christ: “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5. The Gospel is clearly defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” New Testament preaching preached the Word of God and the power of God unto salvation. Jesus Christ describes it so: Matthew 7:24–27. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
The foundation of biblical preaching must always be God’s Word alone, and it is our duty and privilege to obey! Men’s ideas and traditions will only distract us from God’s Word, God’s will, blessing and power. We often know what we should do, but we lack the inner strength to execute it.
1 Corinthians 1:18, 21 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, . . . . “
God chose the preaching of His Word to save us, to strengthen us and to bless us. God’s Word is the greatest treasure in the whole world!
2 Peter 1:19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
The power and the blessing of God’s preached Word are there for the lost as well as the saved in Christ. Dear friend, we need to hear God’s preached Word often! This deals with life and death for the lost, and with growth and strength for the saved. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 “ . . . Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” How does one live by bread? If we eat nothing, we will starve to death, and even so we will perish without God’s Word!
Perhaps you ask: “What if it is not possible for me to attend Church?” Why can’t you attend? Is it because of sports, irregular work, sickness, or is it due to laziness, a lack of desire or what people might think or say? Perhaps you have been disappointed by people. Such things happen far too often, but these are not valid reasons for failing to seek and find a true Church and worship the Lord! If a doctor disappointed you, you do not give up going to doctors (I hope). Seek and ye shall find!
There are indeed situations where a Christian cannot attend Church. Some are in jail for their faith. God knows the heart and has grace for those who really cannot attend Church, but there will still be something missing in that Christian’s life. Otherwise, they would not have such a desire to attend. It is a sin when someone purposely stays away from our Lord’s Church, because he deliberately avoids Christ Himself! By the way, just to attend and hear God’s Word preached is not enough to receive God’s blessing and salvation.
Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
We must hear the Word before we can keep it. If we seek the Lord with all our hearts, we will find Him. Where should one seek the Lord if not among those who have already found Him? Everyone needs a Church, and that is why there were Churches established everywhere in the New Testament where souls were saved.
4. We Need to Attend Church, Because Otherwise We Will Lead Few, If Any, to Christ.
We have already noticed that God has chosen the preaching of His Word to save the lost. Because this is true, where can we take our lost loved ones and neighbors to hear God’s Word? Another good question is, “How are we going to get the power to be witnesses for Him?” Unified prayer was the key to the effectual preaching and soul winning in the New Testament. Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
It is difficult enough to win the lost when we are united with others, as a “loner” it will only be more difficult! One normal result of staying away from the Lord’s Church is a lack of concern for the eternal condition of lost souls! Mark 16:15,16 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
5. We Attend Church Services Because We Need the Cleansing
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
One result of walking in the light is the fellowship we have in Church. That means that we come under the preaching of the Word and will be strengthened. The Bible also has a cleansing power: Ephesians 5:25,26 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” The loving relationship in the Church and the preaching of God’s Word allows the continual cleansing power of His blood in our midst. Our desire is to honor God and to help each other. We claim God’s will for each other in prayer and love. Christ works His healing power in the midst of this relationship. King David sang from this love relationship in Psalm 133:1–3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (2) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; (3) As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”
How important is this cleansing for our lives?
2 Corinthians 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
1 John 3:3 “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
2 Timothy 2:21 “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
6. We Assemble Ourselves So as to Follow Christ’s Example.
Luke 6:14 “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.”
Jesus Christ was God revealed in the flesh (John 1:1,14; 1 Timothy 3:16). Did He need to be in Church? He certainly did not need to go to Church to receive anything from God, because He was (is) God! Christ did it simply because it was and is the correct and God-honoring thing to do. He did it also to be a blessing to others and set the correct example for others. If we profess to be Christians, that means we are to be Christ-like, and that we follow Him. This world, our families and neighbors need desperately Christians who indeed do that which is correct, who honor God, seek to be a blessing to others and also set a correct example for others. Some believe that they do not “get anything” (or at least enough) from attending Church. Hopefully the self-centeredness of such thinking is obvious to all.
If we are honestly to follow Christ, then we must also follow His custom of attending services. Of course, we need to attend a biblical Baptist Church, otherwise we will be uniting ourselves with unbelievers and/or the worldly Babylonian religion: 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
7. We Need to Attend Church Regularly, to Function as the Churches of the New Testament Did.
Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: (25) 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.”
Sad to say, there were also people then that neglected Church attendance! Our Lord commanded them and us to regularly assemble together. From what we have already studied, it is easy to understand why God warned them and us. We again need to emphasize that we always do ourselves more harm than anyone else when we stay away from Church. When we fail to fulfill our function in our Lord’s Church, it will indeed have a negative influence on the rest of our Church. Every member of a Church has at least one gift to minister in that Church, 1 Corinthians 12:4–27. Every ministry is important, and it does damage when one of these ministries is missing. The Church does indeed miss that member, but the member misses the whole body!
It is our special privilege, honor and duty to Christ, Who purchased us with His precious blood, that we become members of one of His Churches, and that we regularly serve Him there. It is a sin against Him and His Church for us not to be there. When something in us says, “I do not want to be in Church,” then wake up! That is a warning signal that something very serious is wrong in our lives! Do we want no part in God’s work and Word? Are we crazy and on the road to self-destruction? Dearly beloved, when we have the least amount of interest in attending Church is when we need it the most!
Satan, the flesh and the world want to use other people in a Church to keep people from attending. That is a shame, but it is true. First of all, if we only come to Church because of other people, then our basic reason is false: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. When we stay away from Church due to a disappointment in someone (even in the Pastor), then we are egotistical and hold our personal feelings as being more important than our Lord, His Church and His Word. Do you think that the other Apostles should have stopped going to Church because Judas betrayed our Lord, or because Peter denied our Lord three times and cursed (Matthew 26:74,75) ? Should we let others rob us of God’s blessings, just because they are wrong? God only knows if you might be the very person that He wants to use to help that person: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1.
There were many problems in the Corinthian Church, and the Apostle Paul sent Titus to help them, while he himself could not go. Not a pleasant work, but the result is described in 2 Corinthians 7:13 “Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.” Amazing, but God uses our problems (we all have them) to help us grow closer to each other in the Lord, as we work through these problems in humility, love, obedience and faith. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Whatever problem is involved, it will never get better by staying away from Church, but it will only be compounded.
Sometimes people enter into a time of depression when they do not want to see or talk to anyone. I can understand this well, since my dear wife went through just such a very difficult time. My thanks to God for His grace at that time was great, because she knew and felt her need of the ministry of the Holy Spirit working through the preached Word. It was a difficult time, but she would come into the auditorium after everyone was seated, and she left before the invitation was completed, so she would not have to face others. Not going to Church due to depression is like not going to a hospital or doctor because you are hurting too much!
8. We Attend Church Because it Is The Only Organization That God Ordained to Fulfill His Commission.
Jesus said to the first Baptist Church in Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
How are we to learn to follow the Lord if we do not go where we are taught? We will commit many dangerous sins that will do damage to us, our families and society if we fail to become wise in the preached Word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16. I read through the Bible once every year, and it never ceases to amaze me how many “new” things I discover! Many times I have learned very important things through the preaching of others that have kept me from hurting others and myself. Every person needs this! Thoughts and habits that are contradictory to God’s Word destroy our lives and keep God’s full blessing from being upon us!
Just before Moses died, he gave Israel God’s promise and warning recorded in Deuteronomy 30:19,20 “ . . . I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (20) That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life,...” God gave Israel the Law so that it might be studied, obeyed and read regularly before the whole congregation. It is our choice whether we hear and obey God’s Word. If we do not hear and obey His Word, nor cleave unto Him, then we are at fault. It is not God who is at fault for our circumstances.
We have studied many reasons why we should regularly attend God’s House, but the most important one has not yet been mentioned.
9. We Need to Attend Church So That We May Praise, Thank and Worship God!
Luke 24:50–53 “And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. (51) And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (52) And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: (53) And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”
We all need much from the Lord (much more than we can possibly comprehend), and occasionally people come to Him only to get what they want. God knows better than we do what we need, and He truly desires that we come to Him with our needs. Psalm 50:15 “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” There are important directives of God on either side of this command that declares what God expects from us. Psalm 50:14 “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:”
In the beginning of our relationship with the Lord, we could do nothing more than accept His grace, love and supply. In ourselves, we could be nothing more than sinful humans. That is why He came to us, because we were unable to go to Him. Praise God for being a seeking Savior! That is also why He died on Calvary, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5.
It is sad to say that thankfulness is in such short supply in the world today, but it is. No where is this more evident than in man’s relationship to his Creator! Dearly beloved, if we have anything good at all, then we have it because of our gracious and merciful God. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17. Even the most difficult sufferings of our lives are gifts of God so that we might realize our need of Him and be led to Him! Most people who have found their peace and salvation in Christ, received Him in response to a great problem in their lives. We all have our problems and need His help, grace and salvation. It is the height of foolishness when we fail to accept His invitation. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
Whoever receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, becomes His child (John 1:2; 3:1–7; Romans 8:16). Much too often, we act like spoiled children and are not thankful. A baby thinks only on what it needs and wants. It takes a long time for us to think of others and learn to live for them. Some never learn this. They never recognize the work and love that others sacrifice for them, but they take everything for granted. “The world owes them everything!” This attitude is sad enough in those without Christ, but it is particularly sad in a child of God!
The happiest people in the world are those who love, praise and serve God (and others) in one of our Lord’s Churches! That is why Jesus Christ declared in Matthew 22:37,38 “ . . . Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment.” King David had much suffering during his life, but through that suffering, he really got to know his Savior and Lord. David’s recommendation is, “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.” Psalm 67:5. David’s commitment was, “And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.” Psalm 35:28. The Church in Jerusalem was under persecution and gave this testimony in Acts 2:46,47 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Dearly beloved, if we had nothing to learn, if God did not command us to attend, if there were no precious souls to win, if we did not have His example and did not need to be strengthened, we would still need to attend God’s house simply to praise, thank and worship Christ for all the good that He has done unto us! We will be more joyful and experience more of His blessings, when we express our thankfulness and show it in our lives!
Once there came ten lepers to Jesus Christ, begging for healing. He healed them all, but only one of the ten (15) “...turned back and with a loud voice glorified God, (16) And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. (17) And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? (18) There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” Luke 17:15–18. Do we not want to be that one of the ten that publicly glorified God and gave thanks? I certainly do! God forgive me when I have failed to be open and vocal in my thanks unto my Savior!
If all of those who found salvation through our German Church (and live in our area) would attend services Sunday to praise and serve God, there would not be enough room to hold them! If they would only follow Him, we could build a new building and win many more to Christ! How much more blessed would these be, if they would only learn to give God the glory in His Church. That is indeed where He desires to get His glory. Ephesians 3:20,21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” How can we give God the glory in the Church, if we are not there?
It is our special privilege, honor and duty to love, thank, honor and obey Christ in His Church.