Our gospel meeting begins one week from today and it seems so appropriate to
emphasize the importance of every member being present for every service. This has nothing to
do with my personal opinion about this, but there are spiritual reasons for why this should
happen.
I am coming to every service because Jesus will be present. There is no greater reason
than this. The Lord said, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My
servant will be also” (John 12:26). Every Christian should be described in this verse, for every
Christian should be one who serves Him. Every Christian should be one who follows Him. Now
Jesus says that those who serve Him and follow Him will be where He is. It is folly to think that
the Lord will be absent from any service of the meeting. Where do you think His servant and
followers should be?
I am coming to every service because the lost will be there, and the gospel will be
preached to them. There is no doubt that the church has worked diligently to invite others to
come, and past experience shows that they will come. There is no doubt Bro. Swindle will
preach the gospel clearly to them. There is also no doubt that my presence will contribute to the
impact the services will have on them. I want to be part of the salvation of the lost in Drew
County. My absence reveals if I am seriously concerned about those in sin.
I am coming to every service because the FAMILY needs me to be present. My
brothers and my sisters have prayed and invited others to come with the expectation that the
Lord’s family will be present to welcome those friends who will come. My absence will not only
send a silent message to those who come, but it will discourage those who have finally made
headway in getting others to come. Think about it. My physical presence or absence reveals how
much I actually enjoy being with my FAMILY (Hebrews 10:24-25).
I am coming to every service because I hunger and thirst after righteousness. I have
not arrived at the place in my life where my righteousness is complete. I know I need to be fed
from the Lord and drink from the fountain of life. I know that preaching has changed my life and
fed me in the past, and that it will feed me now (Matthew 5:6; Romans 10:17).
I am coming to every service because there is no place I would rather be. Think
about this! What possible reason can there be for being elsewhere?

~Dan Jenkins

via Central church of Christ,
Bastrop, LA