Who Pushed Me?

The story is told of an old man traveling on an ocean liner. A storm blew up and a young lady who had been leaning against the rail lost her balance and fell overboard. Almost immediately the old man appeared next to her in the water, keeping her afloat until both were safely pulled back into the ship. That evening, at a special party honoring the elderly gentleman for his bravery, he was called on to give a speech. The old man rose slowly, and looking intently into the faces of his fellow passengers, he said “There’s just one thing I want to know! Who pushed me?”

I think all of us need a little push from time to time. We know what we ought to do, we just need a little nudge to do it. That is one of the reasons why the early church met every Lord’s Day to worship together. The Lord knew our need for encouragement, and designed the collective assembly for that purpose. In the letter to the Hebrews the inspired writer wrote: “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 we see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

We need the association and fellowship that the Christian assembly provides. Through it we are motivated to service and godly conduct. Worship is an uplifting experience if it is in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). If you are forsaking it, then you are missing out on much needed encourage­ment and direction. I want to encourage you to be faithful in your worship. Make a concerted effort to be present when the saints assemble. Don’t intentionally neglect the assembly, but plan to be present, and ask a friend to come with you.