WHY WEREN’T YOU HERE?

Far too often, professing believers allow the least things to keep them from faithfully attending public worship. On Sundays they can't come because the relatives are coming in for a visit. On Wednesdays they can't come because the children have to play ball, take their baths, or watch television; or because the leaves have to be raked, etc. (Read Luke 15:18-20)

What are you saying when you use such excuses for your neglect? You are telling your relatives that they are more important than the worship of Christ. You are telling your children and those around you that hearing the Word of God is important, but only when it is convenient, there are some things more important than your everlasting souls.

What do you miss when neglect the assembly of God's people? You miss an opportunity to meet with God's family, hear his Word, and worship his name. It may be that by your neglect you will miss that message by which God would have spoken to your heart. It just could be that your neglect will rob your child of hearing that word in season by which God might have spoken life to his soul.

To neglect the ministry of the Word of God is to neglect your own soul, neglect the greatest needs of your family, the needs of their souls, and neglect the praise and honor of our God. Such neglect shows a brazen ingratitude.