LET US NOT NEGLECT OUR MUTUAL GATHERINGS AS SOME HAVE MADE IT A HABIT
Author: Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans
Translator: Robin Barker
Someone asked me:
“Why must a person go to church?”
My immediate reaction is that the answer in the first place is very simple.
The Word – in other words our Lord says – that it is what we, His followers, should do.
HEB 10:25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
I really want to share with you the following illustration.
Look the next time when you are standing next to the fire at a braai/barbeque.
The coals in the fire glow red.
Now take the coal that glows the brightest of all and put it next to the fire. Immediately the colour dims and very soon there is nothing left of the red glow that it originally had, while the coal is in the fire, where it was still glowing brightly.
The reason why this happened is it obvious.
Alone the coal was not strong enough against the cold air around it.
The Word says to us:
EPH 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Around us are the cold evil spirits in the air. That is why it is good to stay in the fire and at the same time to remember:
I am not just a disciple of Jesus.
I am also a servant of Jesus and as a servant I must be willing to work and to serve.
ROM 12:5-8
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Therefore:
HEB 10:25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.