Can you imagine your boss telling you that you need to be at work by 9:00 AM Monday or be fired? In this economy, there would be 100 people at the door waiting to take your place if you didn't comply. If you heard this threat come out of his mouth, how diligent would you be to get there? Would you set and double-check your alarm? Would you maybe even get-up a bit earlier to make sure you weren't late? To make THAT happen, you'd probably go to be earlier Sunday night so you wouldn't oversleep. Basically, you'd do everything in your power to be on the job by 9:00 if not earlier!
Am I on track thus far?
With all that in mind, what would you tell someone who called you Monday night crying about how he'd lost his job because he came in at 10:00 after being told to show-up at 9:00? If he stayed up to 2:00 AM, slept through the alarm, crawled into work an hour late and then got fired, would you feel sorry for him? No! You'd probably tell him that he should have done everything we just agreed YOU would have done. By NOT doing so, he in essence chose to be fired...right?! Of course!
But what about Church attendance? Is THAT important? Despite God's clear command in Hebrews 10:25, many Christians argue, "No!" Oh, they might not say it out loud, but they "vote with their feet" many Sundays. They either don't show-up at all or wander in 30, 40, 50 minutes late or more as if to say, "Oh well, God, you're nowhere NEAR as important as my boss."
But when these folks don't hear answers to their prayers, don't feel God's presence, don't have any assistance from God financially, go through "relationship hell," don't receive healing when sick, etc.; they cry and even blame God for His lack of action.
Amazing isn't it?
Our checkbooks and calendars tell a clear story of our priorities. If we don't give and we don't attend church weekly, we don't put God first--period! What does yours tell you about whether or not Jesus is Lord (in first place and in charge) of your life?
Pray on this...then act! You'll be blessed if you do!
In His Love,
Pastor Joel
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