why do we go to church

Why do we go to church? It really is a good question. And for many a struggle. We seem to make it work on time, to play on time, but worship? I’ll get there when I get there. We seem to make school a priority, homework, housework and entertainment something we won’t miss, but church? Despite the fact that one of the 10 commandments says “remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor but on the seventh you shall rest from your labor.” Sounds like a good idea. A day off. But is that really what the Sabbath is about?
In Exod 31:12-17, the Word makes it even clearer why we OBSERVE the Sabbath.
12 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
13 "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for {this} is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
14 'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
15 'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death.
16 'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.'
17 "It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased {from labor,} and was refreshed."

To observe the Sabbath is to cease from labor and be refreshed. To observe the Sabbath is to celebrate the Covenant God has with us. It is a sign between God and us. It isn’t optional!
Yet, it is so much more than a day off. It isn’t about taking long naps, enjoying our favorite hobby. It is about setting aside time to be refreshed by God-a HOLY day. A day set apart to focus our hearts fully on the Lord. So much of our “Sabbaths” are not this. They are about family time, family dinner, watching ball or catching up on what was left undone from the week. The Sabbath was a HOLY time set apart by God to let the LORD refresh our hearts because we were focused on Him and sitting in HIS PRESENCE all day. Ever come to the end of a Sunday and feel like the life has been drained out of you by all the people? Perhaps that is because focus wasn’t on HIS PRESENCE for the day, but being present for everyone else who is calling your name, but HIM. My favorite moments at church are when I can get still in HIS PRESENCE and just BE-cease striving and just listen. But I also love the moments where as a body we lift our praise to HIM or read HIS Word together. I love finding a friend and praying together or gathering around a table to eat, but truly dine on HIS WORD. These are moments of refreshing.

Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
Refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord. Not a nap or some form of entertainment or even time with our family. The Sabbath is a time to cease from all that and seek the LORD so that we might be refreshed.


ALL FOR YOU