Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer is the President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and the former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour. For a number of years now, he has also been the author of “The Meyer Minute”, a daily devotional resource. He writes the following:
Why go to church every Sunday? Many of us grew up with that habit, and habit it is. Or was. Today many people have redefined regular church attendance as going once every few weeks. Attending less than weekly doesn’t mean you’ve lost saving faith and of course the ill and elderly get a pass. Our routines are busier than decades ago. Is there a compelling reason to go every Sunday?
When St. Peter wrote to believers who lived in a non-Christian society, he focused on feelings versus God’s revealed truth. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” We are “to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 1:14; 2:11; 4:2).
Back-and-forth between emotions and opinions and the call on Sunday to God’s truth. You can answer the call of the church bell every few weeks, but I’d find it scary to give my feelings that much freedom.
Many such resources are available for our devotional life. This year I want to highlight some of my favorites to help encourage you to “keep the Word of God before”. You can find The Meyer Minute on the internet at https://themeyerminute.typepad.com/meyerminute/
Ancient Israel observed the Sabbath every week (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15), but that’s not enough to motivate most people from the heart. Biblical literacy has diminished, Americans don’t like the idea of obedience – Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way” – and so more and more people see no compelling reason to put church into their weekend plans. But there are reasons, and emotions and opinions are one.
Going to church every Sunday pulls a person back to the objective truths revealed to us by our Father in heaven. During the workaday week, people’s feelings and opinions reign supreme. You and I are constantly monitoring how we’re feeling. Eavesdrop on people’s conversations and you often hear them talking about how they’re feeling about someone or something. Daily devotions help keep the Word before us, but tally your time in daily devotion versus the emotions and peer pressure put on you day-in and day-out. On this side of eternity Christian life is a constant back-and-forth between emotions and opinions during the week and God’s revealed truth through preaching, teaching and fellowship on Sundays.
Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!
Come to Holy Cross – Jesus is here – for you!
Your Servant in Christ our Lord,
Pastor Jeffrey Stone
Proverbs 3 Verses 5 to 6. [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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