Go to church, it does the body good!

When the Musk Ox is faced with danger the herd of musk oxen form a circle with their heads and horns outward and their young and weak in the center. They gather for mutual protection rather than trying to go out on their own or running away. If this practice is innate within these beastly animals, could we not consider this to be a more civilized practice?

Typically, when things get tough, we tend to withdraw from those who care for us the most. When trouble comes, instead of coming together to draw on our mutual strength, we stray from the pack and conjure up lame excuses to justify our actions.

 Let us examine Hebrews 10:22-25 and see the scriptural reasons of attending church.

1. Let us Draw Near to God.

Verse 22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Attending church helps authenticate our relationship. No insincere person or hypocrite can draw near to God.

• Let us hold unswervingly to the hope of eternal life.

Verse 23, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

The definition of Hope is ‘confident expectation and anticipation.’ Attending and staying connected helps to nurture hope.

• Let us consider how we may spur one another on.

Verse 24, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

The definition of Spur or Provoke is ‘the act of inspiring or stirring something up; the promotion of a specific action.’ The Hebrew writer’s emphasis is not on what a believer gets from the church, but on what he contributes to the church.

• Do not forsake the gathering of yourselves together.

Verse 25, “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 the day approaching.”

If you used every excuse you give for not attending church at your job on a regular basis, you would be fired. (E.g., I am tired, I have a headache, I went fishing, I overslept, I do not like my leaders, some people here do not like me, I got my feelings hurt, etc.) Those were then, and now you would hear; I do not want to be exposed, my cousin on my mom’s side was exposed to a person who was exposed on his father’s uncle’s side when they were over at the neighbor’s house three weeks ago for two minutes to pick up a bottle of water. You catch the drift.

In the day we are living in we need to be in a church more than ever before! We need to surround ourselves with encouragers and those who are strong in the Lord. The church is a network working on our behalf, not against us. Do not run, do not hide, or make excuses. Even if you must live stream, or do personal devotions with your family or alone, get up and get ready, and go to church by getting connected in some way. It can be the booster that you need for your week. It does a body good.