To that statement, I can honestly say, "THAT'S RIGHT!" You need to be here for God and for His glory. You need to be here for us and for our gain. Finally, you need to be here for you and for your own good. God's plan for His church makes it clear: there are no "Lone Rangers" in the Christian life. Just like players need their team, so sheep need their flock.
I Corinthians 12: 25-26 tells us that we need the care that the loving body of Christ supplies by His grace. We need a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold on to, an arm put around us, a pat on the back or a swat on the backside. Jesus gave His disciples the command to love each other as He loved them. The church is to be the physical hands of Christ to minister to each other.
Ephesians 4:11-16 shows the work of the body through the gifts of it members as essential for and directed toward the growth of the members. We serve one another so that we may; ” till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ " (Eph. 4:13). As the Bible says in Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron" so if we are distant from the fellowship, our spiritual "point" will become dull.
Wolves feed on sheep that are separated from the safety of the flock, so we need the protection from the wolves of false doctrine and sinful deception that are in the world today. This protection is found in church. Listen to Hebrews 3:12-13: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. "
A group of folks were discussing one evening where they would be if they didn't go to church the following week. They gave several different responses. One said, "I think I would go fishing." Another one said, "I think I would catch up on some chores or go visit my parents or kids." But one saint said it best when she said, "I think I would be ASHAMED of myself."
I realize that the weather has been less than pleasant lately, but I also realize that God has been moving in our midst and pouring out His blessings on us. We PRAISE and THANK Him for how He has helped and healed the lives of members for whom we have prayed. The Lord has provided opportunities for us to minister in His name to people all around us. Yes, it's true the needs are great, but God is greater! It pays to serve and worship the Lord. So, I will be looking for you in Worship and Bible Study.
