In today’s reading we are exhorted about making sure we don’t neglect spending time with other believers. This is often interpreted to be about church attendance. I believe that would be a mistake, and an understatement. This is referring to much more than just showing up to church on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. For many, church and Christianity is confined to Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. It is much more than that.

Christianity is lived out, not on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings but the rest of the week. True Christianity encompasses every aspect of our lives. There is no part of our life that God is separated from and therefore no part that He doesn’t want us to reflect Christ through. The problem with reflecting Christ in every area of your life is that it is very draining spiritually. It takes spiritual energy to deny the flesh and reflect Christ to those around you.

As we minister to those around us, we will run into those who want nothing to do with the church. Often it is because they have had a bad experience within a church. Someone acted like a sinful human and hurt them in some way. Satan then used that hurt to separate this person from the body of Christ so that he can have his way with them.
One of the ways that we can fight against this tactic of the enemy of our souls is to make sure that we are regularly involved in the gathering together of the saints in meetings outside of church. This might be a home Bible study or prayer meeting. It could be a fellowship event. It might be a conference or a retreat. Most churches encourage these types of activities because of their importance to the health of the church.

The writer of Hebrews tells us not to neglect these activities. Another tactic of our enemy is to fill our lives with other activities that distract us from meeting with other believers. If we are not deliberate in our efforts to meet with other believers, we will quickly find ourselves neglecting this important aspect of our faith.

One of our goals as believers, especially if God has appointed us as leaders, should be to restore God’s people back into fellowship with Him. One of the ways that we can do this is by inviting those that Satan has separated from the flock into our homes for casual fellowship or discipleship. They may not be ready to go church but they might come to someone’s home.

Everyone needs the fellowship of others. This is especially true of Christians. We gain so much from the fellowship of the body of Christ, that to neglect it is like neglecting to feed your body. Eventually you will become so weak that you will be easy prey for the hater of men’s souls. Staying connected to the body of Christ is one of the ways that God feeds your soul and makes it stronger. Do not neglect this vital aspect of your faith. Jesus, help us to stay connected to You and to Your people.

Read: Ezekiel 23:1-49; Hebrews 10:18-39; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 27:13