The epistle of Hebrews was an attempt to stop some of God’s children from leaving the faith.  Primarily because of persecution, some saints were leaving Christ to return to Judaism.  One outward manifestation of this was that they were forsaking the assembling of the saints.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV)
²⁴  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  Much has changed in the world and with the church since the Hebrews writer pen those words, but one thing that has not changed is saints forsaking the assembling of God’s people.  It is a sad truth that many in Christ will lose their souls because of their neglect of such a simple command.

We must come to terms with the fact that the practice of assembling with the saints is not optional, but instead, is a God-given commandment.  To neglect this command, like any other commandment given by God, is to sin.  Notice what the Hebrews writer writes in the very next verse.

Hebrews 10:26 (ESV)
²⁶  For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

While we clearly must view the assembling of the saints as a commandment from God, it should never be viewed negatively.  Commandments do not have to be burdensome.  God gives us commandments that are in our best interest, and He does so because He loves us.

1 John 5:3 (ESV)
³  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

We will never reap the full benefit of assembling together if we approach it as something burdensome instead of what it really is—a wonderful privilege that is profitable to us in every way, spiritually.  It is in our assemblies that we have the greatest opportunity to be edified and built up in the faith.  Everything we do when we come together to worship God benefits us spiritually.  On the Lord’s day, there are five areas of worship in which we engage…praying, studying, giving, singing, and observing the Lord’s Supper.  In our other assemblies, we engage in praying, studying, and singing.  All of these things build up the church, as well as individual Christians.

What a privilege it is to assemble and worship God, but then, there is the added benefit of growing stronger in the faith and becoming more equipped to withstand the fiery arrows of the devil.  Anyone who is even a little spiritually minded should look forward to the times when we assemble ourselves together to serve God.  We should all have the mindset of David.

Psalm 42:4 (KJV)
⁴  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.