You’re off today, so you’ll go fishing, get outside, commune with nature, and enjoy the day. But wait. You’re not off if it’s Sunday, the Lord’s Day. You should be worshipping with the Saints. The God who made the fish directs that we worship, every Sunday. So, you may be off from work, but you’re not off from God. You’re never off from Him. Your life is dependent on Him. In Acts 17:24-28, the Bible states that God made the world and everything in it, including you, so it’s best to worship Him on Sunday.
Why Sunday?
Sunday is the day Jesus arose from the dead, Luke 24:1. It’s the first day of the week, and Saints meet together on that day, Acts 20:7. Sunday is also the day of the first gospel sermon, Acts 2:1-2. Also, Pentecost is always on Sunday.
In the New Covenant, the New Testament of the Bible, Saturday is no longer the day of worship. Sabbath was a day for the Jews to worship, but when Jesus died on the cross, the New Covenant stipulated the first day of the week as the day of worship. That’s why first-century Christians met on Sundays to worship, pray, sing, give, and share the Lord’s Supper. Once again, we see this example in Acts 20:7, and we see it in the command to give, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
But Why Worship At All?
What is worship? It’s a reverent act of giving our hearts to God. Thayer’s Dictionary says it means kissing the hand toward one in reverence. We bow our wills, hearts, minds, and bodies to God.
So why worship God?
There are many reasons, but let’s consider three. One is God the Father, who gives life to all things. You existed the moment you were conceived. God placed your soul in your mother’s womb. So, the Father created you. You owe your existence to Him. Only God can create life, so He’s worthy of worship.
Then again, before the world was created, He had a plan for mankind’s salvation. Knowing that man would separate himself from Him through sin, He provided for everyone’s salvation, 2 Peter 3:9. Sin separates one from God, Isaiah 59:2. God’s law stipulates that the one who sins shall die, being eternally cut off from Him, Romans 6:23 and Ezekiel 18:20.
If you accept His plan for salvation, you need not enter Hell with everlasting, eternal torment.
Here’s the second reason to worship. Jesus, as deity in heaven, gave up His position to come to earth to enact God’s salvation plan. Jesus was man/God while on earth.
There must be death for sin, according to the Father, and Jesus, as a perfect, sinless man, allowed Himself to be crucified by the very people He created. Because He lived a perfect life, He became the perfect sacrifice. He gave proof of this by arising from the dead for you.
After arising from the dead, Jesus ascended to His position in heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God, Ephesians 1:20-21. He rules the world and everything in it. He is the only head of His church, Ephesians 1:22-23. Jesus is our only sacrifice. There is no other, Acts 4:12.
Jesus will one day judge the world, John 5:28-29.
The third reason is the Holy Spirit. He is the security, God’s promise of salvation, Ephesians 1:13. God promises salvation to everyone who believes Jesus is God’s Son, John 3:16, to everyone who repents of sin, Luke 13:3, and turns to a moral life, to everyone who confesses Jesus as Lord, Romans 10:9-10, and is baptized for the remission of sins, Mark 16:16.
As the Father promises, as Jesus enacted salvation, and as the Holy Spirit secures, salvation can be for everyone.
Is Meeting Together on Sunday for Worship Really that Important?
Read Hebrews 10:25. If you give up attending worship to do something you want, that’s forsaking the assembly. God says that’s a sin, and if we sin willfully, there remains no sacrifice for us, Hebrews 10:26. You’d be back among the lost, and you don’t want to face judgment in Hell. How would you like to tell Jesus you enjoyed fishing rather than worshipping God for your salvation?
Yes, worship is that important.
Conclusion
Let’s be in our right minds and worship Him as He directs, Isaiah 1:18. You’d be in Hell without Him.
Contact us at garland.churchofchrist@gmail.com, subject: Off Today.
You’ll receive spiritual teaching and love at the Matthews St. church of Christ in Bay City, TX.
We have a Bible correspondence course we’ll be glad to send you. You can also meet with us via Zoom.
Your soul in heaven is our goal.
Garland Van Dyke