1. I admit it. Today I will go to church for a lot of “me” reasons. I need encouragement, renewal, and comfort for the past week.

2. Also, I have so many petitions for the week ahead that it makes my head spin.

3. But I also go for “Him” reasons…to give Him the worship He deserves. He alone is worthy to receive all our worship, praise, honor, glory, power, majesty, dominion, authority, wisdom, wealth, reverence, awe, blessing, and thanksgiving.

4. Sure, I could give Him that worship from the comfort of my home and, in my private devotions, I do. Yet there is a statement to be made to the watching, and even unwatching, world by my faithfulness to gather with others in a house of worship. It’s a witness.

5. Showing up also makes an encouraging statement to brothers and sisters that we are united in faith, and there for each other. I know that’s how they feel in Charleston this morning.

6. It is also an act by which I demonstrate to Jesus, and prove to myself, that I love Him the way He asks me to in John 14:15, 21, and 23.

7. Finally, I do it as an act of obedience to the truth that has been revealed, rather than resist Him as an act of defiance or rebellion because I’m not getting what I want. It helps increase my faith that I’m getting what I need.

So, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

Until every church disciples every man…

Patrick Morley, PhD
Founder and Chairman, Man in the Mirror