Consumer Christianity vs Committed Christianity

But King David replied to Araunah, 'No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing'.
1 Chronicles 21:24

I've often wondered how we would feel if:

• You bought a new watch that ticked one second and missed the next.
• You found that your teenager went to school one day and then missed the next.
• Or your heart started missing a beat.

Irregularity in any area of life causes massive problems! It reminds me of the driver stranded on the hard shoulder who said to the AA man, 'I knew it was going to breakdown as soon as it started missing!'

It was said of the Lord Jesus Christ, 'He went into the synagogue, as was his custom...' Luke 14:16, and for those first disciples who made up the early church, 'they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship and to the breaking of bread and to prayer...' Acts 2:42.

For those in leadership as 'under-shepherds', there will be a desire to mirror the shepherd they serve by leading a Godly example in their regular worship, fellowship and Bible study. If the disciples had not chosen to meet on that first Sunday night who would the risen Lord have revealed himself to? (John 20:19)

It is possible, sadly, to be a member of any church and even in leadership and not be regular at services and prayer meetings. I'm afraid I'm old school when it comes to membership of an organisation. When I played rugby many moons ago, if all we did was turned out sporadically on a Saturday we were doomed to disaster - we had to attend practise night or we didn't play.

Friends, if we want to make an impact as Christians on our society, we need to start 'letting our light shine!' That is why the Bible challenges us to, 'encourage one another and not to give up meeting together as is the habit of some!' Hebrews 10:25.

It was Woody Allan who said, 'Ninety per cent of life is just showing up'. Can I encourage you to make that commitment (and there will be a cost) to Jesus and get with it? It might not be 'your way' of doing things but it is Christ's!