Stealing the Day

I’ve gotten pretty good at coming up with excuses not to go to church. When I first moved away from home, it was because I was in unfamiliar territory and didn’t know where anything was. When that was no longer a valid excuse, it morphed into not wanting to try to visit local churches because I didn’t know what to expect.

There are a few churches I’ve now gone to a few times, so that’s no longer true. Now, the excuse is that none of the churches I’ve gone to fit into what I want for a church, or that I’m tired/overslept, or have things to do. I listen to plenty of Christian music and pick up my Bible every once in a while so that’s good enough. My brother doesn’t go to church. My mother used excuses not to go, so it’s okay for me to do the same. The unmerited reasons are almost endless.

However, Hebrews 10 insinuates that not gathering with fellow believers is not a good thing: 

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…

But for that matter, I’ve been coming up with excuses not to study the Word. I’m too busy. Too tired. Deserve to take a break after work and sit back and watch football or “How I Met Your Mother.”

However, the Bible answers these excuses solidly:

Matthew 4:4- Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

John 8:31 & 32-  ³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

No more excuses.

(Source: biblegateway.com)