Satan wants all Christians to forsake the assembling of the saints as often as possible.  Why?  Because he knows that God does not want us to, having commanded us not to do it.

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV)
²⁵  Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

All Christians should know that every time we fail to assemble with the local church to which we belong, we fail to obey God and are doing the will of the devil.  Too many of God’s children do not know what the devil knows and that is a problem.  Satan wants us to think that assembling with the saints is optional.  He wants us to believe that it is no big deal when we do so.  That way we will keep playing into his hands, sinning against God, and thinking we are okay.

Forsaking the assembling of the saints is a problem that touches almost every local church, at least to some degree.  It is rare to find a church where every member attends every service possible.  I doubt that this problem will ever go away completely since it has plagued the church from the beginning.  The question is, will we be a part of the problem or strive to be the solution?  It is up to each one of us to determine to be at every service.

The reason God wants us to assemble is because He knows the great value of it.  It is our main source of edification and the time when we can motivate one another in Christ.  Just before commanding us not to forsake the assembling of the saints, the Spirit moved the Hebrews writer to write, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works”  (Hebrews 10:24).  How do we do that?  In part, by assembling together.  It is at that time that we study and pray and sing praises to God, and, of course, commune with each other and with Christ by partaking the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:15-17).

There is not anything we do when we come together to worship God that Christians should not love doing.  This being the case, our attitude should be the same as the Psalmist.

Psalm 42:4 (ESV)
⁴ These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

We should be glad every time we have the privilege of worshipping God with other Christians.  We not only help other Christians grow in the faith, but we are also built up spiritually, as long as we assemble for the right reason (to glorify God) and with a good attitude (believing that we will get something good out of the service).

If you are not in the habit of attending every service that your local church has, this is a good time to renew your commitment to God and start this new year out right.  Many brethren will regret their forsaking of the assemblings of the saints on the day of judgment, but I have never known a Christian who regrets attending faithfully.

Do not do what the devil wants you to do.  This Sunday be in your proper place worshipping God with those of like precious faith.  Oh, and don’t forget to attend the Bible class.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.