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Memorial Day is past, school has been released, and the mercury is reaching for the triple digits - summer is here. If your schedule is anything like mine, this summer will prove to be anything but lazy. From conferences to conventions, camps to BBQ’s, family gatherings to time at the beach, summertime is busy. With our shortened warm season this year, we all feel a need to cram as much time in the sun as possible.
In the midst of all the busyness one of the first things to fall by the wayside is church. For many, Sunday worship and certainly midweek study are less important in the summer, and are often treated like a mere winter activity. In the desire to spend time in the S-U-N we forget to spend time with the S-O-N. With a similar state of mind, Hebrews 10:25 is written:
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Neglect is an interesting word. It means “not pay proper attention to; or to disregard” and carries the sentiment of “not taking proper care of someone or something.” It is often used to describe something that is in unkempt and in disarray, due to the disregard of its owner; or in some extreme cases children whose physical and often times emotional state has been weakened from the lack of parental involvement. Yet here the word is applied to Church.
Let us not neglect, or forsake, meeting together; or in other words going to church. Even in the first century Christians had began to let their zeal and commitment to the Lord slip behind other areas of life. In doing so, they neglected their spiritual condition. But why? Why is going to church, meeting together regularily so important, so vital to our spiritual condition? There are three basic reasons:
- It is in Church where we are fed spiritually, where we hear God’s truth taught, are fed spiritually, and have our faith strengthened. Consider what would happen to your physical body if you stopped eating all summer. When we stop feeding on God’s Word our Spiritual bodies weaken as well.
- It’s what God Intended us to do. From the beginning God intended us to be in “Mutual Community.” From the creation of Eve to the calling of the nation of Israel, mankind was not intended to be alone. In fact, Jesus called 12 disciples not one. In Acts the Christians met together, and throughout the New Testament Paul didn’t just evangelize people, he planted churches. For it is within the body of Christ that fellowship and encouragement are found from other believers; challenging us to press on.
- Once we stop going, it’s easy to stay away and hard to go back. From diet to exercise, once we stop doing anything it is very hard to start back up again. Once we stop going to church, it is difficult to get into the routine again.
Today, I urge you in the words of Hebrews 10:25 - Don’t stop meeting together, this summer or ever. Rather make it a priority and discipline to engage in public worship weekly - wether at home or away. It is my prayer that you will be spend plenty of time with the S-O-N this summer.
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