“Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking 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” (Heb 10:24- 25). “Forsaking” carries the idea of intention. Jesus on the cross asks why God had forsaken Him. “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim 4:10).

God expects you to worship!

Why does God expect us to worship?

One: Worship makes us the church. The term church is used to mean the community of believers (e.g., Matt 16:18). Ekklesia really means “assembly.” In Ephesus, Demetrius the silversmith caused a riot, and the riot is called an ekklesia (Acts 19: 32, 39). The New Testament also calls the worship assembly an ekklesia. “When you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it” (1 Cor 11:18). Paul talks about speaking “in the church” (1 Cor 14:18-19). Without an interpreter, the one who can speak in tongues is to be silent “in the church” (Acts 14:28). A woman is to be silent “in the church” (1 Cor 14:34-35).

Two: The assembly is a unique form of worship. We’re to sing to one another. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16). How can we teach and admonish “one another” if we’re not together? The Lord’s Supper requires an assembly. “On the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them” (Acts 20:7). “My brethren, when you come together to eat [the Lord’s Supper], wait for one another” (1 Cor 11:33).

Three: The assembly is for our encouragement (Heb 10:24- 25). Notice exactly why we cannot forsake the assembly: We’re to be encouraging one another in light of the Second Coming. Look also at verse 26: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” The Greek “for” at verse 26 expresses the reason for what was just stated. Why can we not neglect the assembling of ourselves? Because if we continue to sin there is no further sacrifice for sin. Missing the assembly leads to other sin!

Four: God commands our worship. Jesus to Satan: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matt 4:10). Angel in Revelation: “Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Rev 14:7). If you fail to worship, you are sinning against the God who made heaven and earth.

Five: Worship fulfills your destiny. We were created to worship. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all” (Eccl 12:13). God is worthy of my worship. “Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him” (Ps 33:8). “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev 4:11).

God expects you to worship! How do we put this principle into practice? God expects you to worship!

One: Understand you have made a commitment to worship the Lord. When you were baptized into Christ, you made a commitment to honor the Lord. Baptism involves taking off the garment of sin and being clothed with Christ. Rom 6:1-4. Col 2:11-12.

Two: You need to think about why you miss. Do you miss because you’re sick? Would you go to work that sick? Are you able to do other things you enjoy? Do you miss because you need to work? Do you work because the money is better on Sunday? “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matt 6:24, ESV). “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness” (1 Tim 6:10). Do you work because your priorities are not in the proper order? “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt 6:33).

Two: You need to think about why you miss. Do you miss because of company? Jesus taught us that obedience to Him is far more precious than family. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Lk 14:26). “Whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother” (Mk 3:35).

Three: You need to worship. That’s simply the truth -- God created us to worship Him, God commanded that we worship Him, and worship Him we must. If I fail to worship when I’m able, Jesus is not really the Lord of my life. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt 6:33). When God is really first in my life, I will worship Him as I ought.

Is Jesus really first in your life?