Sneak In and Sneak Out

“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

 

 I once observed a man who would arrive for Sunday morning services a few minutes late each week and leave moments before anyone else at the conclusion of service.

In doing this week after week he would not interact with anyone on any meaningful level.

He was free to ‘observe’ what God was saying but not have to walk it out through purposeful relationships with other believers.

While this can happen in any church it is certainly easier, as was the case here, in a larger church.

But I doubt anyone would argue that his behavior could fulfill the admonition of

“…not forsaking the assembling…”

He never even allowed the opportunity to “…love one another…” by his late arrival and early departure.

Sneak in and sneak out but never engage.

There were many people who saw and heard Jesus when He walked the earth 2,000 years ago.

But 12 men were impacted far greater than these many others, because they gave up their lives and their livelihoods to follow Him.

To quote a popular phrase from today, you might say they had ‘skin in the game’.

Through their choice to follow they were the ones who were faced with questions like:

“Who do men say that I am?” or “Peter, do you love me.”

They were tossed into the moments when Jesus overturned tables, walked on water or called the religious leaders of the day whitewashed sepulchers.

There were ‘engaged’ in the relationship the same way you and I are challenged to be engaged today.

We are called to an obedience that will bring down blessings from heaven and persecution from man.

But you don’t have to take that course.

You can choose to be an observer, not engaging while remaining comfortable and relatively unchanged.

But God has called you and purposed you for greater things…