Back to Basics
Sunday, January 6, 2008
“The Best Laid Plans…”
25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 NIV
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
As we have embarked on the New Year of 2008, this is the time for each of us and all of us together to make PLANS for the year. These first two full weeks in January, we are going to be examining what it means to make and carry out plans in the name of and will of the Lord. But first, today we are going to look at a single verse of Scripture from Hebrews 10. That verse emphasizes the necessity for us as believers to “meet together.” The English translation may leave some doubt in our minds as to whether the meeting together is for the purpose of worship, fellowship, discipleship or what, but not the Greek. The Greek word translated “meet together” is “synagogue” (pronounced soon-a-go-gay). As you can see we get the English word synagogue from it. Since synagogues exist for the purpose of worship, we can see that meeting together as we are urged to do in Hebrews 10:25 is for the purpose of worshiping God. Even in the first century church, some had already “given up” the practice of worshiping together. Perhaps the chariot races were more exciting, or there was yard work to do, or the early Christians found that they could worship God in the wondrous gardens of the ancient world. Whatever the reasons, the author of the letter to the Hebrews exhorted those early believers NOT to give up meeting together, but to gather in worship and encouragement of one another.
As we embark on a New Year, many plans will unfold among us. I urge you to make one plan part of your overall plan for growth and health as Jesus’ follower in 2008: gathering every week to worship God together with your brothers and sisters in Jesus! Making corporate worship a priority ensures that God stays first in our lives. If God is just one “option” among many in our lives, then He isn’t truly Lord. Making the commitment to worship together is part of our overall plan to keep God first in our lives AND to building up one another. It helps to ensure that God is first and that serving in His name is one of our primary activities.
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
What will you do to make certain that corporate worship is a priority in 2008?
What specific actions are necessary for this to happen in 2008?
How will you encourage others in our life together in 2008?