No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith.
The
writer of Hebrews knew that his audience, made up mainly of Jewish
believers who had just come to faith, was struggling with how to
incorporate their Jewish heritage into their walk with Christ. The
author therefore spends a great deal of time explaining that Jesus
Christ prepared the way for uninterrupted fellowship with the Father. He
is our great High Priest. His death provided the way for individuals to
have personal access to God without going through a human agent.
At
times, this principle was difficult for the Jewish Christians to
accept. They were accustomed to participating in a variety of ceremonial
washings and offerings to be cleansed from their sins; immediate access
to God apart from those things was something new. But the writer
assured them that since Christ died for their sins and rose from the
dead, they could now go directly to the Father with their prayers and
needs. The author also knew the challenge facing these converts to
remain faithful to their new faith. So he exhorted them to “hold fast …
without wavering” (Heb. 10:23)
He instructed his readers to help one another hold
fast to their faith in God. He knew they would be tempted by trial and
persecution to drift from the truth that God had plans for their lives.
So he said, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and
good deeds” (Heb. 10:24).
The Greek term translated “stimulate” literally means “to irritate” or
to pressure one another to consider what the Lord has done in the past.
He is faithful and does not abandon the work of His hands. We are His
creations, and when we encounter difficulty, sorrow, rejection or any
other distress, we can know without doubt that God will provide the
wisdom and resources we need. Even in times of joy, He is blessed by
happiness and contentment. In essence, the author was instructing his
readers to spur one another along, to refuse to become ensnared by
negativity, and to take responsibility for their lives in Christ as well
as one another.
With this backdrop, the author made it clear that they should not stop meeting together (Heb. 10:25).
They needed one another, just as we need other believers. To give up
meeting together would spell disaster because it would provide Satan an
opportunity to draw them away from the Lord. In meeting together, they
found the mutual encouragement to keep going. The same is true for us.
God
wants us to regularly meet with other believers. He wants His people in
church! Many believers don’t take this admonition seriously because
they don’t know the reason behind it. I have often heard this refrain:
“I can worship God at home. I don’t need to go to church.” Many
believers believe the sole reason we meet together is to worship—and
understandably so. After all, we call it a worship service.
If
worship were the only reason we are commanded to meet, then those who
claim they can worship at home would have a strong argument. But worship
is not the sole reason. Nor is it so that we can be taught God’s truth.
We can turn on our radios and televisions and hear good Bible teaching.
On the surface, it seems that anything we can do at church we can do
just as well at home, alone.
So why are we commanded to meet? Why go to church?
The
writer of Hebrews says it is to safeguard against drifting. We are the
body of Christ, and when we are with other believers, we are doing what
comes naturally and what we will do for eternity—being together in His
presence. We make up the church, and together we provide strength for
one another through prayer, fellowship, and encouragement.
Enemy
forces are always at work around us, seeking to blow us off course.
Sheer individual commitment is really not enough to keep us in line. We
need the presence and accountability of other believers who love us and
are willing to laugh, cry, and check on us. At times, when we feel as if
our faith makes no difference—or we see no fruit in our lives, and we
don’t think our testimonies make a difference—it does. When we surrender
our lives to Christ, He uses us in countless ways, ways we may never
know.
In
the atmosphere, worship, and fellowship in God’s house, we discover
that we are not alone. We hear others talk about how the Lord has
miraculously provided for them. One may describe the pain he has
suffered as a result of a loss. A new believer may tell her story of
redemption, rejoicing in God’s grace. As we listen to others recount
God’s work in their lives, something happens inside of us. We are
spurred on to faithfulness and to praising God for His goodness.
The
accountability and encouragement found in church anchor us against the
tides that work to sweep us away. To neglect the regular assembly of
fellow Christians is to miss out on this essential element in the
development of our faith.
Throughout
the Bible, we find that one of God’s principle desires is to have a
close relationship with each one of us. By becoming active in a local
church, you safeguard yourself against missing out on all that God has
for you. Your participation in a body of other believers safeguards your
personal fellowship with God. Remember, when you drift away from the
family of God, it is only a matter of time until you drift away from
fellowship with God.
Regular
church attendance should never be viewed as something you do to gain
God’s merit. We are not saved by good works. Instead, it should provide
the catalyst for spiritual growth. Make sure the church you attend
teaches the Word of God without compromising His truth. If yours
doesn’t, I recommend you visit another church. Find one that accurately
teaches the principles in Scripture while demonstrating God’s love,
forgiveness, and grace. Remember that you also have a responsibility to
actively use your spiritual gifts for the benefit of other believers.
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