The local pastor was greatly concerned because one of his loyal members had suddenly stopped coming to church. He decided to pay him a visit to find out what the problem was, maybe he was sick or going through a rough season and he needed encouragement. It was a cold evening when the pastor visited. He knocked on the door and the man opened the door and let the pastor in. Two seats were placed facing the fireplace and they sat down, stared into the fire and said nothing.
The pastor reached out into the fire and pulled out one of the logs that was hot on fire and he placed it on the floor in the middle of the room and said nothing. Soon enough the log lost it flame, started smoking and eventually it was cold. The pastor then picked it up and put it back in the fire again and soon enough it was back on fire again.
The man looked at the pastor and spoke saying “Thank you Pastor, that was one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard, I will be in church this Sunday.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 (AMP)
24 and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, 25 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.
Are you committed to the fellowship of believers? In this tech word we live today, a world where you can stream in live to church services from all over the world, or switch on your TV on a Sunday morning and catch a church service from somewhere, many are opting to stay at home and not be present in the fellowship of believers we call church. They attend what we call “The Bedside Baptist Church”
The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us not to forsake our meeting together as believers for worship and instruction. To forsake means to abandon, to renounce or to give up. Some of us are believers but we have renounced the church, it seems like there is no church that is good enough for us, we are always finding fault with every church or every pastor, we have become so blinded to our pride because in essence we are saying everybody else is wrong and we are the only ones who are right. Some with this kind of pride have started their own church where they are everything.
Some have abandoned the church because they were hurt or disappointed by a pastor, leader or someone in the fellowship and so they left. We have not forgiven and we are still holding on to the bitterness. How can we claim to love God when we are still holding on to un forgiveness towards a brother or sister in the faith.
Yet for others attending church or being in fellowship with other believers is simply not a priority we are too busy building a business or a career we just don’t have the time for other things.
Whatever the reason, it is not good enough because alone you will eventually lose your flame and effectiveness just like the log. Plug back in and see the fire of God burn brighter in you again
