A friend posted this on Facebook recently and I could not have said it any better myself. We need more Christians to stand strong like she is doing.
I'll
never understand why anyone chooses to put extracurricular activities before
the meetings of the Lord's Church. This goes for any meeting but of course,
most especially, the first day of the week. I know many of these same people
worry about their children remaining faithful as the grow into adulthood, or
whether or not their children will choose christian friends, however they
continue to choose to attend ballgames, vacations, dance classes, sports
practices, study for tests and any other number of events over Wed night, Sun
night, gospel meetings, VBS, and sadly even the gathering of the saints on the
Lord's day. Of course faithfulness takes more than just attendance but regular
attendance is certainly a good first step!
The faithfulness of our children as adults will certainly depend on more than whether we choose VBS over baseball or a Wed night bible class over a dance recital or to study for a test, but shouldn't our desire to be with other christians be stronger than our desire for our daughter to learn ballet or any of our children to make perfect grades? Why would we as christians, who are striving to be together in heaven for eternity not want to be together at every possible opportunity here on earth?
My intent is not to judge but to maybe make us all think a little longer before we deliberately choose to miss a gathering of Lord's body again.
(Heb 10:23-25 KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) {24} And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: {25} Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
I have always loved this story about James Garfield. I've seen conflicting stories about his religious affiliation but the lesson is a good one all the same.
AN EXAMPLE TO IMITATE
James A. Garfield was President of the United States of America, taking office March 4, 1881. On his first Sunday in Washington after his inauguration, a member of the cabinet insisted that a meeting must be called to discuss a matter that threatened a national crisis. The President refused on the grounds of another appointment. The cabinet member then insisted that the national matter was of grave importance, and that Mr. Garfield should break his engagement, but Mr. Garfield refused to do so. Then the cabinet member remarked: "I would be interested to know with whom you have an engagement so important it cannot be broken." President Garfield replied: "I will be as frank as you are. My engagement is with the Lord, to meet Him at His house at His table at 10:00 tomorrow morning, and I shall be there."
The faithfulness of our children as adults will certainly depend on more than whether we choose VBS over baseball or a Wed night bible class over a dance recital or to study for a test, but shouldn't our desire to be with other christians be stronger than our desire for our daughter to learn ballet or any of our children to make perfect grades? Why would we as christians, who are striving to be together in heaven for eternity not want to be together at every possible opportunity here on earth?
My intent is not to judge but to maybe make us all think a little longer before we deliberately choose to miss a gathering of Lord's body again.
(Heb 10:23-25 KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) {24} And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: {25} Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
I have always loved this story about James Garfield. I've seen conflicting stories about his religious affiliation but the lesson is a good one all the same.
AN EXAMPLE TO IMITATE
James A. Garfield was President of the United States of America, taking office March 4, 1881. On his first Sunday in Washington after his inauguration, a member of the cabinet insisted that a meeting must be called to discuss a matter that threatened a national crisis. The President refused on the grounds of another appointment. The cabinet member then insisted that the national matter was of grave importance, and that Mr. Garfield should break his engagement, but Mr. Garfield refused to do so. Then the cabinet member remarked: "I would be interested to know with whom you have an engagement so important it cannot be broken." President Garfield replied: "I will be as frank as you are. My engagement is with the Lord, to meet Him at His house at His table at 10:00 tomorrow morning, and I shall be there."
Via Erin Howard