And let us be concerned about one another to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25 HCSB

Growing up with my mom, I was expected to be in church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I was expected to attend Vacation Bible School. I was expected to participate in youth fundraisers. I was expected to participate in any other events for my age group that occurred at the church.

I once heard an evangelist put it this way, “Growing up, I had a drug problem. My momma drug me to church every time the doors were open.” I could identify with that statement.

Church wasn’t optional. It wasn’t something we did if we had nothing else to do. It was what we did on Sunday and Wednesday. It was an integral part of our lives.

I thank God my momma laid a solid foundation of church attendance. She set a godly example for me to follow. Even though I would not always follow that example, I would come back to it and realize how much better it was to go to church.

My brother-in-law has posted on Facebook for the last few Sundays encouraging others to go to church.  I want to encourage you to go to church. Most people will tell you that they “feel better” after going to church. Some will tell you it makes their weak go smoother.

People who are not in church often tell me they know they need to go to or get back to church. I get it. It’s not so easy to go back after being gone for a while. I am encouraging you to go to church. I am encouraging you to take your children to church.

This world is evil. Many evil people are trying to influence our children today. We need to help them to study their Bible. We need to provide them with support from a church family.

My mom was great, and she did many wonderful things for me. But the best thing she did for me was to teach me to love the Lord with my whole heart. She also taught me that there was no other place I should be than in church on Sunday. I’ll admit, I didn’t always appreciate it. But as I have grown to learn more about the God we serve, I have grown to appreciate it tremendously.

Our lives here on earth are like a vapor. They flash before our eyes and before we know it, life on this earth is over and we face the final judgment.

I often wonder how those who don’t go to church will respond when God asks them why they neglected to come into His house and worship Him.  I wonder if He will ask how we could possibly expect to enter His kingdom in heaven when we refuse to enter His house on earth.

If you believe in God, then you need to understand that He is our heavenly Father. Just like our earthly fathers, He wants us to spend time with Him. He wants us to regularly visit with Him in His home. He wants us to support and spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. He wants us to be there for each other.

If you believe in God, know that Bible study is important. Go to church and learn more about His word. If you were a churchgoer but someone hurt your feelings in church, go back to church or find another church. Churches are filled with imperfect people like you and me. They should be places for healing.

If life got busy and you got out of the habit of going to church, put all those other things on the back burner and put God and church first.

If you have to work on Sunday or you are caring for a shut-in, I get it. Many first responders and others have to work on Sunday. But if you are not working and not taking care of someone who can’t go to church, go to church.

Have a great weekend!