Pretty much everyone has heard something along these lines:
“Do I really have to attend Wednesday night bible study?”
“I just don’t see the point in going to the second Sunday service when we were just there.”
Or,
“It’s not like we’re commanded to go to worship three times a week.”
Basically, we’ve all heard people ask if it’s necessary to be at every worship service. But, let me ask you if you’ve ever heard this:
“Do I have to go to this concert for my favorite band that I’ve been dreaming about since I was twelve?”
“I don’t see the point in eating ice cream.”
“I just don’t think it’s necessary to travel the world, you know?”
I’m guessing you haven’t ... because that’s crazy. Why would anyone in their right mind try to squeeze themselves out of participating in their favorite thing?
Hebrews 10:25 says, “...not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
That seems clear enough, right?
Acts 2:42 says, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
They devoted themselves; anything to which we are devoted won’t feel like an obligation. If we are truly devoted to God as we should be, worship will come as a desire and a blessing in our lives. We should not see the assembling of the saints as a checkmark on our spiritual to-do lists, but rather as an opportunity of which we can take advantage to worship our God. What message are we sending to that God if we are constantly looking for any excuse to not worship Him?
So, physical attendance is important, right? That’s the point we’re trying to make. But, what about spiritual attendance?
John 4:23-24 says, “The hour is coming, and now is here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth."
In order to worship Him in spirit and in truth, we must stay attentive and active during the worship service. It won’t do us any good to come and sit on a pew for a few hours just because we feel obligated. We should focus our mind on Him while we worship. Any thoughts or desires that we allow to overtake our mind or body during the time we set aside to worship become idols in God’s eyes (Exodus 20:3).
Let us strive to always treasure worship and long to be present, in every meaning of the word, so that we may one day be in his presence for the rest of eternity.