Wisdom snippets: Go to church!

 

A few months ago, my church organized a concert. On his way to, one of the guest artists’ car broke down on the motorway. He was now faced with this dilemma: either finding a solution for the car immediately, as he was not going to abandon it there, or prioritizing the concert which he was at risk of missing otherwise. As he contemplated these options, he asked himself: Should I not go to church because my car has broken down; or should I definitely go to church precisely because my car has broken down? If I can tell the story, then you know which decision he made.

This is someone who had the right perspective on things. He understood that the only one who would benefit from the breakdown was the devil; and if Satan did not want him to go to church, then, on the contrary, it was in his best interest to do everything to go.

We tend to let any incident, accident, sickness, quarrel or problem, too easily take us away from the only place where we can find help – that is, the presence of the brethren and GOD, aka the church. Problems are precisely the proof that you need GOD and the church more than ever. They are the proof that you need the LORD and prayers more than your own resourcefulness. Therefore, do not forsake your congregation. Do not say: “I’ll go back when everything is fine” or “I’ll go back when I’ve sorted things out.” The most vulnerable sheep are the lonely ones and the church exists, first and foremost, for those who are sick indeed and not for the healthy (Lk 5:31). Luke 5:18-20 tells us how some people refused to let paralysis and the crowd stop them from meeting with Jesus. They carried their friend on his sickbed and let him down into the midst through the roof, and Jesus healed him. Never allow the devil to triumph. He is the only one who has something to gain from you not fellowshipping with the brethren. At home, you do not expect anyone to just disappear for a few weeks every time that something is going wrong in their lives, do we? So why do it in GOD’s house, the church, our spiritual home? Let NOTHING stop you from running into GOD’s presence. Whether you are disappointed by Him or angry with Him, come to church; sit somewhere and tell Him: “LORD, I don’t really feel like smiling, praising or talking today; but here I am.”

Have a great week thwarting all the plans of the devil and GOD bless you.