Raising three children ages five and under has led me to believe the question, “Why?” has unlimited uses and applications. While juggling my children's seemingly endless why questions, I have been reminded of the importance of purpose. It is very important to understand what something is, how it works, and where it goes. However, the most critical driving factor behind everything we do is the answer to “Why?”
Unfortunately, as humans, we tend to drift and deviate from what we should be doing and what our heart posture should be about as naturally as your car with an alignment issue does. The remedy to spiritual, emotional, and relational drift is answering the question, “Why?” and renewing our minds regularly with that truth. So, having laid the stage, let me ask you a question: Why do you attend church on Sunday mornings?
There are plenty of poor reasons to gather with the saints on the Lord’s Day:
We’ve always done it. It’s a habit.
To appease those who expect you to be there.
To not feel guilty or to earn favor with God.
To balance out our “not so good” parts of last week.
To be entertained by music or preaching.
To continue enacting our power over ministries, people, or places.
Because we feel obligated to.
This list could go on for quite a while…which is why we must consider our hearts, motivations, and desires to understand our “Why?” You and I may join with the Psalmist and say:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24
After repenting of wrong motivations or purposes in your heart, renew your mind in the following truths.
We gather on Sunday because it is the Lord’s Day
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day
Revelation 1:10a
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
Acts 20:7
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
1 Corinthians 16:2
We gather because God commands us to.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25
We gather to fulfill the corporate worship commands and follow the early church’s example.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42, 46-47
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:1-2
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26
As we gather together as God’s people, we sing to each other and to the Lord. We practice the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We admonish (sternly warn) one another, encourage each other to good works, serve on another, pray together, and sit under the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. This is God’s design for His people. So, the next time you have to answer the question “Why?” You can answer with any of what has been said above or you can always summarize with the following:
“I gather with God’s people on His Day because it glorifies God and is for my ultimate good.”
I pray God would continue to add to our church daily those who are being saved. May Rozetta Baptist be known as a church of glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all people!
May God bless your week as you seek His kingdom first!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan
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