A Heart That Receives

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” —Matthew 7:11, NKJV

Why do you attend church? And if you do not—why don’t you? Many church leaders find it challenging in our post-COVID-19 world to encourage members to return to in-person worship. Paul reminds us not to forsake “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, NKJV). Many of us have heard this verse quoted, but why did Paul find it necessary to write it, and why should we attend church once, twice, or more a week? “If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the love of God, and of the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed, and they would refresh one another”1 With these words, Ellen G. White reminds us why worshiping together as a church family is so important: fellowship, affirming the truths of the Bible, refreshing our hearts, and refreshing others in our church family. Attending church enables us to learn more about God and what we believe as we share our thoughts during Sabbath School lesson study time.

We come to hear a Word from God through the worship speaker that will encourage us and give us spiritual strength to face a new week.

So much more could be said, but I want us to understand that there are blessings in collective worship that we may not receive when we separate ourselves from the family of God in corporate worship. Our Father is willing to give us the “good gifts” we need for daily life, but we must come with a heart ready to receive. Paul tells us to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV). This journey from earth to heaven is a journey of faith, for many times we cannot see where God is leading us. But as we worship together and share our testimonies of God’s goodness, He blesses us with courage and strength as we press forward on the journey home. I encourage you, my sister, if you have not been to church in a while, go and visit your home church this Sabbath and enjoy the outpouring of blessings God has waiting for you there.

You won’t regret it!

Heather-Dawn Small