Apathy prevails in our society as one of our nation’s greatest problems. Many good causes totally fail because good men and women become apathetic and do nothing. This can be seen in many areas such as immorality, crime, politics, education, and even religion. By the latter, I am referring particularly to apathy toward attendance in church.
Believers have the blessed privilege of assembling together with others on the Lord’s Day, “the first day of the week,” for the purpose of worship, fellowship, serving, and learning through the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. How tragic that many believers fail to take advantage of this most blessed privilege.
There is no question that the writing of Hebrews 10:24-25 can be applied to our present time. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
The Scripture teaches us clearly that we are not under the legalism of the law in the Old Covenant, but under the grace of God as portrayed in the New Testament. Therefore, we do not worship on the Jewish Sabbath, but on the “Lord’s Day,” the first day of the week.
The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ occurred on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1).
Jesus appeared to ten of His disciples on the first day of the week (John 20:19).
One week later, Jesus again appeared to His disciples on the first day of the week (John 20:26).
The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, the first day of the week (Acts 2:1), when the first public sermon was preached after the resurrection of Christ, resulting in three thousand being saved, baptized, and added to the church (Acts 2:14, 41).
The Christians came together for the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week, and Paul preached to them (Acts 20:7).
The Christians in Corinth were instructed to bring their offerings for the Lord’s work on the first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2).
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the church Jesus loved and gave Himself for, is God’s only institution for carrying out the Great Commission — being witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. When the Lord’s day, the first day of the week comes, may the apathy that can overtake us through the deception of Satan not overtake us! May we heed the Scriptural admonition, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.”
Our country is filled with frustration and anxiety on every hand. If there were ever a need for the church of the living God to be strong, effective, and successful, it is now! Christians should be filling the house of the Lord on the Lord’s Day, out of love for Him and in obedience to His Word (John 14:15). Don’t let apathy toward the things of God keep you out of the Lord’s house!