by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
As brand new Christians, we become aware of Satan’s tricks to hinder our growth in Christ. While planning to go to Church services and studies, we have all experienced times when our attention is drawn away by other things. Our own tiredness, or an unexpected “emergency” of some kind arises, and we tell ourselves, “I’ll go next week.” Sleeping through our alarm clocks can only be used as an excuse just so many times. Genuine sicknesses and health problems do come up, there’s no doubt about that. Family emergencies do occur. It’s difficult to think of a household that hasn’t been affected by these things.
But preparations can avoid many of the things that hinder our fellowship. We should remember that Satan is looking for those he might devour. Exhausting Saturdays and “living for the weekends” can make us weak and vulnerable prey.
When it’s a school night, we make sure the kidos are in bed on time so they can function in the classroom the next day. For jobs and work, we make sure we ourselves are in bed to get enough sleep so that we aren’t late for work, or too groggy to perform our jobs the next day. Why is the Lord any less important than school or work? I am not unsympathetic to this plight we all share. Temptations to skip church come to all of us, but we need one another.
If Satan is roaming about, then busy Saturdays and recreation times are among the socially acceptable ways Satan uses to rob us of the blessings of church and fellowship. The very things that build us up for weekday battles are cast aside for idle pleasures far too often. We need one another.
We plan for work, school, and for relaxation and recreation. Budgeting our time to optimize our schedules can mean we must trade one thing off for another. I pray that none of us would ever short-change Jesus for the time He wants to spend with us; the time that He knows we need. We need one another.
- Hebrews 10:24,25 -
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: 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 that day approaching.”
