ALL PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Hebrews [ESV] 10: 12-25
… when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made
a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all
time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to
us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and
write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins
and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have
confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and
living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his
flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near
with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean
from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast
the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how to
stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as
is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see
the Day drawing near.
When it comes to church assembly attendance
and participation (2 separate areas) professing Christians have never been all
present and accounted for. The Book of Hebrews was written in the first century of
the church and it speaks of truancy then. The #1 reason given is neglect (KJV
“forsaking). The Greek definition being: Strong’s G1459 ἐγκαταλείπω; egkataleipō; eng-kat-al-i'-po; From G1722
and G2641; to leave behind
in some place, that is, (in a good sense) let remain over,
or (in a bad one) to desert: - forsake, leave.
Today’s title is a
military phrase indicating just what it says, all present or accounted for at
roll call, or not; the latter being increasingly the case today in our USA
Christian nation.
Mainline denomination
numbers have been falling for decades. Now the largest Protestant denomination,
the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), has experienced a decade of drop in
membership. What do you see in your local church assembly roll and space?
Church numbers are not to
be our goal, individuals are most important, but as we actively love *God and others,
and if they come to accept their individual responsibility, there will be
numbers honoring our Lord as we encourage and support one
another in good and bad times.
Indeed church leadership
and active members have responsibility for caring for one another, but let us
note the wording by the writer of Hebrews . . . faithful participation is
primarily responsibility of the individual believer.
Let us not forget for one
day that the roll call here affects the eternal roll call on “the Day”.
EBB4
*Ex.16:28; 20:6; Lev.22:31; 26:3; Deut.5:10; Jn.14:15; 15:10
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