Today’s 333 Devotional: “Why Church?”

The Bible says we’ve been created for relationships. It says that in the beginning man being alone wasn’t a good thing. This is the heart of the Great Commandment that says we’re to love the Lord with the whole of our being, which is worked out by loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).

God developed the place to help work all this out – it’s called the church. Once you’ve become a believer you also become a belonger. God wants you to be a part of His family, to be a part of the church.

Fellowship doesn’t happen in abstention, but rather by getting together on a constant basis. The writer of Hebrews says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

A habit is something we do frequently. We don’t have an occasional habit. A habit is something we do over and over again.

We’ve got to start spending time with one another. If all we do is see each other once a week, or once a month, then we’re not going to build any sort of relationships. Kind of like a marriage. If we see each other once or twice a month, it’s not going to last.

Concerning the first church it says, “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.” (Acts 2:46)

The church was formed with this in mind, gathering together on a daily basis. Yet most Christians complain about coming together once a week. Therefore, why do we wonder at the church’s weakness?

What’s keeping us from meeting more consistently?

Today our gatherings are based more out of convenience rather than out of conviction. What’s the difference? Convenience is going when we have the time, conviction is going because we make time.