Forsaking the Assembly
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“And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
The book of Hebrews tells of Christians who are slowing growing dull and falling away from the faith. Some were drifting (Hebrews 2:1-3), some were dull of hearing (5:11), and some had fallen away (6:4-6). They had fallen into the habit of forsaking the assembling. It was not that they missed an “assembly” or part of an assembly; they had abandoned meeting with the saints altogether! They quit going to worship and bible classes.
The Lord spoke of the people of the rocky soil, where people hear the gospel with joy but have no firm root. “They believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away” (Luke 8:13). Then the Lord speaks of those who have thorny soil: after they hear “they go on their way,” “choked with worries and riches and pleasures.” They bring no fruit to maturity (Luke 8:14).
These people fall away from the faith and the church for a variety of reasons. They abandon the times set aside for stimulating one another to love and good deeds. They miss all the good they could have enjoyed had they worshiped the Lord with God’s people, because they are separating themselves from God. We hope they will return to the Lord and to worship. We invite them regularly to get back to serving the Lord.
Phil Sanders