Written
by Johanna Hobrath, September 21, 2008
At
a very young age, while living in Europe, my parents taught me to pray and
to attend the church
that is located in Slovakia. As a matter of fact, in the year 2004,
the missionary brother- and sister-in-law invited my husband and I to visit
(*) Europe with them. (The
photo to the right is a picture of the church in Janova Lehota, Slovakia
(2004). Johanna and Adam are standing at the entrance of the church in
Janova Lehota (Drechslerhau.)
I
have often stated, in essence, "it is a miracle that I am living in
America". The journey from being a six-year-old girl in Janova
Lehota, Slovakia, to being an elderly person in America has brought about
many happenings and challenges. One of my decisive factors in my life
is the fact that I do love to serve God through Jesus Christ and via His
Holy Spirit. Receiving a 4-year Bible Diploma via the correspondence
course from the Liberty Home Bible Institute, and studying a course entitled
"Caring For People God’s Way" via the AACC, Light University in
Virginia, has given me a greater insight into Biblical Studies.
The Bible is clear
that it is essential to attend God’s House.
The
Book of Ephesians, Chapter Four, clearly and with passion states that Christ
is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 4:15).
This
morning, September 21, 2008, being a Sunday morning, I once again knew that
I and my husband were planning to drive to the House of God where we
worship. That morning, while sitting in the church of our choice, for
some reason I was overlooking the entire congregation. The church that
morning was filled with regular and/or new attendees. As I looked over
the congregation, I saw the heads of men and women. A sense of awe
came over me as I realized that God does love each and everyone of us, no
matter our individual character. God loves the old, He loves the
young, and He loves all people groups. The question then came to
me: "do I love everyone?". We all have differences of
opinions, whether in daily living, within a family unit, at the employment
place, politics, and, yes, within a church setting.
Indeed,
the Bible tells me in I Samuel 16:7: ". . . for the LORD seeth
not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the
outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
Do we, then, have to be afraid that God can see the very corners of our
hearts? I believe that God understands and sees the frailty of the human
being; however, God also sees the willingness of each person that wants to
live a Christ-like life that is yielded to Him.
Romans
6:13 states: "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that
are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness
unto God."
Romans
6:22 states: "But now being made free from sin, and become
servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting
life."
May
the above article entitled
"WHY I ATTEND CHURCH"
be a blessing to you from this internet preacher. And, yes, I have
more to learn in the realm of "Spiritual Maturity". Within
the realm of daily living, God may again and again show and/or teach us to
continue to have a humble heart that is grateful while serving the MOST
HIGH GOD IN HEAVEN!
The
Bible-believing Churches throughout the world are fundamental necessities.
Attending such churches is paramount to the growth of "Spiritual
Maturity" as people journey toward one's Glorious Eternity, so that
some day we may be forever with God (God the Father, God
the Son, God the Holy Spirit), and all the Saints that dwell in Heaven above!
Scripture
tells us: "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 10:25
