RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY, 16TH FEBRUARY.

THEME: GOING TO CHURCH: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU.

OPENING SCRIPTURE: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Some Christians think they should only go to church when it’s convenient. They believe God is everywhere, so you don’t necessarily have to go to church to serve or worship Him. It’s not right. Our opening scripture expresses the importance of going to church. It chides those who don’t and admonishes us not to be like them.

There should be a compulsion in your heart to be in church when you should. Cultivate that personal discipline. God says it’s important so it must be to you too. In the Old Testament, He said to the children of Israel, “Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year” (Exodus 34:23-24).

Notice what He told them; He promised them those lands, through their fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the lands were occupied by enemy nations who were naturally stronger than Israel. However, God was going to cast out the nations from before them, give them their possessions, enlarge their borders and protect them. The blessing of verse twenty-four was fully dependent on their obedience in verse twenty-three; their being in the designated place of worship when they should. It’s all about priorities.

This year, as you make it a priority to be present in your church, fellowship and cell-group meetings, God’s mighty hand of protection will rest upon all that you do! His Word that’ll come to you will lift you, and keep you perpetually above every evil, destruction, hardship and terror. You’ll ride upon the high places of the earth, walking in abundance, and in the wisdom of the Spirit. Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the opportunity to be instructed by your Word. Not only do I provoke those in my world to good works, I do not forsake the assembling of the church; the blessings of fellowship with you and with fellow believers is seen and manifested in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study:
Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 [It is] like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, [and as the dew] that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, [even] life for evermore.

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 2:1-22, Leviticus 9-10
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 14:34-15:1-9, Genesis 47