What is missing? U R
Have you ever heard of a Burma-Shave sign? They were signs on the side of the road that would let you read one piece of a saying at a time. You would wait in anticipation for the next sign to appear, giving you the next clue to the completed sentence. The last sign by the road would simply say Burma-Shave, which was the sponsor of the roadside saying. This was a common occurrence in my childhood before people were offended, or are worried about political correctness. Here are a couple of examples of such signage:
HARDLY A DRIVER
IS NOW ALIVE
WHO PASSED
ON HILLS
AT 75
BURMA-SHAVE
A MAN A MISS
A CAR – A CURVE
HE KISSED THE MISS
AND MISSED
THE CURVE
BURMA-SHAVE
Because of the popularity of such signage, other entities picked up on its usage. One sign that stuck in my head since my youth is this one:
HAVE YOU BEEN
TO CH—CH LATELY?
WHAT IS MISSING?
U R
Such a little phrase that speaks volumes! The ironic thing about this type of signage is it spoke the truth in short simple phrases. The truth is, some of U R missing from church. I am curious as to what your reasons are, and if they are reasons or excuses. It doesn’t take much for some of us to find a reason not to attend church on Sunday. Some of us use any excuse in the book that we may find, regardless of how feeble, just so we soothe our conscience with it.
What exactly, does church represent to you? Is it an obligation that you feel is a requirement to help you meet a certain standard in society? Is it your prerequisite one hour per week that you feel you owe to God for the many blessings you have received from Him? Did you know the church is the home of all God’s family? It is a place to teach and counsel one another in wisdom, encourage one another, a place of safety and belonging where you can worship God together. A home is not a home without a family, it is simply a house. The same can be said of a church, it is simply a building without the family of God present in it. Who do you think supplies you with all the reasons and excuses for not attending church? Trust me on this, it is not God! So who do you think is the one putting stumbling blocks in your road of faithfulness? Satan would love nothing more than for you to believe that church is insignificant in your life and doesn’t matter if you go or not. He is the one that whispers in your ear that you’re too tired to get up on Sunday morning, that you’ve worked so hard you deserve a rest! Have you ever thought that perhaps the church needs you as much as you need it? The Bible specifically tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We are to keep company with like-minded people, people who believe in the one true God, and want to further His kingdom. Let me propose that you rethink the word faithfulness, because that word, (like God), never takes a vacation. So may I challenge you, that if you go on vacation, you find a church to attend and remained faithful to God.
As parents our neglectfullness of going to church speaks volumes to our children. They will see by our example that it is okay to be a part-time Christian, were nothing is actually required of you. But if you believe the Bible, you understand that much is required of you in the way of faithfulness. Parents shouldn’t just talk the talk, they must also walk the Christian walk!
We as authors can be slaves to our work. Being a slave to something and being faithful to something are not the same thing. In order to get paid you must submit a finished work, which is your motivation. To be faithful to something, is to do it out of love and devotion, not for monetary gain. What are you faithful to?
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
Psalms 27:4
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
Psalms 84:4
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Romans 12:4-5
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.
Hebrew 10:25
(A Song of degrees of David.) I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Psalms 122:1-9