|
Holidays, short trips, out of town may sound fun but should not be attended to, prevent the occurance of sin.
It does not imply that one shouldn't leave the city at all as, many among us are out towards, which might call, to attend for an emergency.
This lesson focusses on the urgency to be back with the body and also the importance of regular worship.
Jesus being our example, suggests this attitude in LUKE 4:16
Luke 4:16
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
Jesus went to synagogue as was his custom. Even though he was the perfect son of God and his local synagogue undoubtedly
left much to be desired, Jesus attended services every week. His example makes our excuses for not attending the church (out of Town, delays,
extended trips, fun holidays) sound weak and self serving. Therefore, we as honest and true disciples of Jesus should make worship a part of
our life.
Acts 6:4
and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
Act 6:4 also specifies how we need to give attention to prayer as well as "the ministry" of the word.
Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Heb 10:25 says that to neglect Christian meetings, is to give up the encouragement and help of the other Christians.
We gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another in Jesus and our Father.
As we get closer to the "Day when Christ will return, we must face many spiritual struggles and intense temptations and even hard times of persecution. Anti Christian forces, be it forced marriage from your parents to a non-disciple, persecution in the residential area, sent back to your home town, and tempting you with bad company - will grow in strength but difficulties should never be an excuse for missing church service.
Rather, as difficulties arise, we should make effort to be faithful in attendance. Paul rebukes disciples and wants them to wake up for the right cause in correspondence to disciples who have been used by bad company.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame.
Not forgetting that 1 Cor 12:12-24 mentions how the body of Christ is like a human body and each part has a specific function that in necessary to the body as a whole we need to understand that the parts are different for a purpose and in their difference they must work together.
1 Corinthians 12:12-24
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,
24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
Using the analogy of the body, Paul emphasiszes the importance of each church member. If a seemingly insignificant part is taken away the whole body becomes less effective.
This, makes aware of the hurt that we cause to God and the body because of things that we do like neglecting the scriptures and the discipling.
Therefore, get determined to make the right decision for a relationship with God and walking righteous in the word.
|
