Have you taken the time to consider how blessed we are? Not so long ago, the now accepted “necessities” of life were just fanciful dreams. Some of us remember how astonished we were when rotor-dial phones replaced the “party line” system, when a blur of color replaced the fuzziness of black-and-white television, and when “microwave” was a term used only in high-tech electronic conversations. Nowadays, the amenities of life are built with stronger, more durable materials, but are considered “disposable” after a few years. While many of us survived the days of open windows and imagined breezes, we think we’ll perish if something happens to the air conditioning. Somehow, we made do with only one vehicle in a house with three or more drivers. And remember that “fast food” meant it took Mom less than an hour to fix a meal? Oh, how times have changed!
When we think about spiritual blessings, the number exceeds the number of stars in the sky! Paul said that all spiritual blessings are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3), which in itself is a blessing. Think what a blessing to be IN Christ Jesus: baptized into Him (Galatians 3:27), added to His church (1 Corinthians 12:13), granted a new life, a life eternal in Him if we abide faithful unto death (Romans 6:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1: 1 – 11). The fact that God the Father has promised He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) is a blessing we must not take for granted. What a tremendous blessing to realize there is no temptation we will ever encounter without God providing us a way of escape if we will look for it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
We are incredibly well blessed! Our dearest friends are Christians. With them, we are taught and admonished, edified and exhorted when we worship God together in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We are blessed to have God’s word, the Bible, so readily available, and the ability to read, study, learn, and obey its content without being accosted by its opponents! How blessed we are to find prayer as our communication with God the Father, through the Mediator Christ Jesus, and the Intercessor, the Holy Spirit. What a blessing to be called “children of God” (Romans 8: 16 – 17).
Why would any Christian, having partaken of these incredible riches of God, fail to acknowledge the love of God every day of his life? How can any Christian think he “deserves” these blessings, and therefore finds it “acceptable” to take them for granted? How can any Christian claim a sincere appreciation for such blessings and forsake the assembling of His people when they sing praises to Him, thank Him in prayer, and learn more from His word through the teaching, preaching, and study of it?
As we count our blessings, the FAITHFUL will carefully note Hebrews 10:25: “NOT forsaking the assembling of ourselves together …” We’re not talking about those things that prevent us from realizing the fruition of our desires (sickness, death, or some other non-preventable obstacle) but rather the WILFUL neglect of these opportunities. Notice verses 26 - 27 of this text: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Put simply, that means you just don’t want to do what you should do – INCLUDING attending the services of worship wherein you express your thanksgiving to God for His countless blessings with others expressing the same thanksgiving!
Christians recognize going to heaven is a blessing afforded only to the faithful (Revelation 2:10; 2 Peter 1:1 – 11). But too many act as if they think that the final determination of their faithfulness was determined when they were immersed, without further service to God. If they TRULY counted their blessings, they would notice the assembling is among the best of God’s gifts! Let’s never take that for granted!!!