“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 The Living Bible)
Somebody who knows I live in the time zone where it is just a little after midnight; somebody is asking, “Doesn’t Mark sleep at night?” I know the answer. I went to bed at 10:00 p.m. and woke up just before midnight. I was having church right in my bed, singing songs in my mind. I went from “Amazing Grace” to “There Is Power in the blood.” And after 5-6 more selections, I did a remix of “Amazing Grace,” and I sang the notes with these appropriate words, “Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise! Praise God, Praise God, Praise God! Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise God! Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!” I was feeling like Paul and Silas, who at about midnight, were praying and singing praises to God. These men were in the inner prison. I was in the comfort of my bed sleeping. But if was the Lord that woke me up so early this morning! I had not worry, but my heart was focused on worshipping. I had to get up! So forgive me if I woke you up to early or on the west coast or in the case where you are still up in other time zones, forgive me for interrupting what you were doing. But it was time for me to have church all by myself. Maybe you just joined me as the Holy Spirit energized you to sing “Praise God” to the tune of “Amazing Grace.” Nevertheless I have a message for you this morning. Renew reading after the Spirit calls you up in the worship experience.
Contemplating about the fact that Christmas falls on a Saturday, I started thinking about how to schedule worship service at the church I pastor on Sunday, December 26, the day after Christmas. I considered the possibility of just preaching a sermon virtually, something that would require only a couple of us to be present. I also considered having an early morning Christmas Day service or even a Christmas Eve service. Why was I thinking this way? To be honest, I was concerned about how the secular Christmas celebrations and holiday travel would affect attendance. All of a sudden, after pondering viable options, I remembered what we did when I was a young child; more concerned like other children; concerned about presents more than the presence of the Lord at worship and the distribution of fruit and a box of hard candy to all members as was the tradition. As I contemplated about my days of childhood, I remembered one lesson from the past.
Specifically, I recalled my father announcing days before Christmas, which happened to fall on a Sunday, “We will not be opening any presents until we come home from church.” Gift opening was not going to supersede the main day of the week where God’s house was open, and the saints were to assemble. Church came first! Compelling arguments to counter my father’s words would be to no avail. Coughing with fake hacking would not help. Litigating a case like the most skilled lawyer in the country, arguing that it was a special day, would have only been met by Dad saying, “You’re right! We celebrate the birth of Christ, our Savior. That is special!” The lesson from the past sealed the plans by this pastor for December 26, 2021.
Church will come first, regardless of any excuse people may offer. Church services will be held. Nothing will change. Isn’t God worthy of our presence? Isn’t the fact that His gift cannot be superseded by stacks of gifts in any household, or the sum total of gifts from around the world for that matter?
That was my lesson from the past and hopefully, even though it is weeks before Christmas, you will see it as a lesson that is right on time! Maybe you should put notes on every bedroom door, every bathroom door in your house, on the refrigerator, and a place under your Christmas tree that says, “Church comes first!” If discussions and disagreements surface, just push them back aside with these words, “Church comes first every week!” Smile! Start making your signs! Add: “Naughty or Nice, plan to be there.” All who attend; all who go in, they will come out better! Smile again! Have a great Friday and be blessed!
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” (John 3:16-18 MSG)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King