“I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.”

You’ve probably heard someone say that. Maybe you’ve even thought it yourself.

And there is a sense in which it is true. Sitting in a church building doesn’t save you. Jesus does. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ, not by having a perfect attendance record.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t need the Church.

The Christians who first received the book of Hebrews were facing difficult circumstances. Following Jesus had brought opposition and suffering. Some had endured public ridicule. Others had lost property, been jailed, or even killed because of their faith. Continuing to confess Christ could be costly.

So the writer of Hebrews tells them to

“hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”

Why? Because…

“he who promised is faithful.”

Notice where their confidence rests. Not in the strength of their commitment to Jesus, but in the faithfulness of the One who made the promise.

God is faithful.

Yet God also knows how easily discouraged we become. He knows that suffering can wear us down or that temptation can gradually pull us away. He knows that there are days when faith feels strong and other days when doubt comes much more easily.

So He gives us one another. He gives us a community.

Hebrews tells Christians not to neglect meeting together, but to encourage one another. The church is not man’s creation, it’s God’s, and the Christian congregation is not merely a collection of individuals who happen to believe similar things. God gathers His people together so that He can give His gifts to us and so that we can strengthen one another.

On Sunday morning, you may arrive carrying burdens no one else knows about. The person sitting a few seats away may be doing the same.

Then God serves you both.

• Together, you confess your sins and hear Christ’s forgiveness.
• Together, you hear the Word of God.
• Together, you pray.
• Together, you receive Christ’s body and blood at His Table.
• Together, you sing truths that perhaps one of you is having trouble believing that particular morning.

And sometimes simply seeing another Christian there is an encouragement.

You’re still here.

So am I.

Christ is still faithful.

That is one reason isolating ourselves when life becomes difficult can be so dangerous. Often, when we are discouraged, ashamed, grieving, or struggling with sin, our instinct is to withdraw. Yet those are precisely the times when we especially need what Christ gives through His Church.

During our new member class we call, “Belong”, I like to tell people that while going to church is a great blessing for your, you don’t just go to church for yourself. You go for the other people as well. The Scriptures tell us that we belong one to each other.

We need someone to remind us of what we are beginning to forget.

Of course, the people gathered around us are sinners too. Churches can disappoint us. Christians can hurt each other. There will be plenty of opportunities to practice the patience and forgiveness with each other as God does with us every day.

But Christ does not abandon His Church because His people are imperfect.

He continues to gather sinners around His gifts.

So keep gathering.

Not because showing up earns anything from God, but because God knows you need His Word, His Sacraments, and the encouragement of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

And they need you too.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your faithfulness and for the hope You have given me in Christ. Thank You also for gathering me into Your Church and surrounding me with brothers and sisters in the faith.

When I am discouraged, keep me from withdrawing from the gifts You provide. Bring me again to Your Word and Sacraments, and use Your people to strengthen me.

When I am on top of the world and feeling great, keep me from withdrawing from the gifts you provide. Give me eyes to notice those around me who need encouragement, and use me to point them again to the promises of Christ.

Keep us together in faith until the day when Christ returns and gathers all His people into His presence forever.

Through Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Amen.

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.