“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). 

Is Church the place that we attend or a people in the process of being made? Many place more emphasis on place than on purpose. It is not a matter of getting what we consider to be our needs met. To be honest, we do not really know precisely what our needs are. There are symptoms, but our needs go much deeper. God knows. He knows our frame or the substance on which all that we have become was constructed upon. The foundation of our soul; mind, will, and emotion, is taken into account when the Word of God is spoken under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We are challenged at the very core of our being in order to discover His intentions for our lives. We are not in place to merely receive affirmations. They will only strengthen the soul in its rebellious state against the knowledge of God. He is our Father. He rebukes us, challenges us, and affirms us. Oftentimes, Church becomes a very uncomfortable place. We are called to reckon with God in relation to the sins that so easily beset us in order for His character to be formed in us. We are not human beings, but rather human becoming’s. We are a work in progress. Whatever we are becoming, all that we expose ourselves to contributes to the formation of our lives. Every moment counts. Time is too valuable to be wasted. 

Many have opted out of attending Church altogether. Their expectations were not met, or a disappointment was so devastating that they distanced themselves from the Church. Maybe unrealistic expectations have driven you away. It could have been a test of character warranting a different response from you. The Church does not consist of perfect people, but rather committed people. The commitment will be tested but the Word of God will bring understanding in His time. Patience is the virtue which must be established with our hearts. God is beckoning His people to come home and be established. Attend church this week in order to worship God. Allow Him to reveal Himself to you and do not depend on your own understanding. The definition that I use for worship is “worship is our active response to God’s revelation of Himself whereby we declare His worth.” It is not about us. If worship is to be real it must be about Him! Out of our worship He will be glorified and His glory will always be for our good. You may not see it now, but when patience is perfected we are able to see further. We can then see aspects of the Kingdom of God unknown to us before His work in us began!