What are you doing that is more important than worshiping God on Sunday and Wednesday nights? What could you be doing that would be more pleasing to God and more profitable for you? Apparently, some of you think you have more important things to do at these times for you very rarely assemble with the saints to praise the Lord.

Do you really think that sitting home and watching television, or sleeping, is seeking "first his kingdom, and his righteousness" (Matt. 6:33)? Is it possible for you to believe that when you stay home to visit with relatives, or others, you truly love your heavenly Father and His Son more than father, mother, son or daughter (Matt. 10:37)? Could it be that when you take your week-end trips and fail to sing, give, partake of the Lord's Supper, etc., that you believe you are denying yourself, taking up your cross, and walking in the footsteps of Jesus (Matt. 16:24)? Do you honestly feel that when you attend recreational, civic, or business activities, instead of offering "up a sacrifice of praise to God" and studying from His precious Word, that you genuinely "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind (Heb. 13:15; Matt. 22:37)? If you can answer "yes" to any of the above questions, then you are either completely ignorant of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, or else you have hardened your heart in unbelief!

The truth is that nothing is more important, more profitable to us, or more pleasing to our Creator than humble and sincere hearts happily offering up a spiritual sacrifice of adoration to Him. Let us not be among those whom Jesus said, ". . . honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me" (Matt. 15:8). Let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that we love the Lord and are to be counted among His faithful disciples when we refuse to: keep His commandments; deny ourselves; and renounce not all that we have for Him (John 14:15); Matthew 16:24; Luke 14:33).

In one of our hymns, we find this question, "I gave my life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?" How would you answer that question? Those who do not enjoy worshiping God now, would not enjoy being in heaven for it is a place of eternal worship (Rev. 7:9-17). Think soberly on these things.

Truth Magazine XXII: 34, p. 546
August 31, 1978