DO YOU MISS ANYTHING BY NOT ATTENDING

SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICES?

by K. A. Pugh

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the sepulcher of Jesus. When she arrived, the stone was taken away from the sepulcher and the body of Jesus was not there. Mary then ran to meet Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved. She told them they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him (John 20:2). Mary then remained at the sepulcher weeping. She looked into the sepulcher and there were two angels in white. The angels asked Mary a question and she responded to their question. She then turned her back and Jesus was standing there. She did not recognize him, and he asked, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”(John 20:15). Jesus then reveals himself to Mary. Mary then told the other disciples that she had spoken to the Lord.

On Sunday evening (John 20:19-23) Jesus came to the house where the disciples were assembled and He said to them, “Peace be unto you.” Jesus then proceeded to show them his hands and his side. Jesus then breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

The Bible states that Thomas was not with the other eleven disciples when Jesus showed himself to them. The other disciples told Thomas they had seen the Lord. Thomas told the other disciples, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). It was eight days later that Jesus appeared to his disciples again, and this time Thomas was with them. Thomas felt the prints in the Lord’s hands and, the print in his side and said, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

Just imagine if Thomas would not have missed that Sunday night assembly with the disciples. He would have seen the Lord the first time. He would have had the opportunity to see the nail prints and the print in the Lord’s side on the first opportunity. Because Thomas missed that Sunday evening assembly, he missed the salutation of the Lord (John 20:19), he missed the Lord breathing on him to receive the Holy Ghost (John 20:22) and he missed the mission that Jesus gave to the other disciples (John 20:23). On top of that, Thomas had to wait another eight days in order to see the Lord (John 20:26): During that wait he said he would not believe that Jesus rose from the dead until he saw him.

What do you miss when you miss Sunday evening services? You miss worship with the saints. You miss the corporate singing and prayers. You miss God speaking to you through the message of the preached Gospel. You miss the kindred spirit of communion with fellow saints. You miss fellowship after the services have ended. You may even become like Thomas and you will not believe on the Lord until you have seen him. If you stay at home, how can you see? You may be thinking, “I attend Sunday morning services and that is good enough.” Look at all the things Thomas missed by not being present at that

particular evening assembly. Most important, Thomas missed the instructions of the Lord. When you miss Sunday evening services, you miss instructions from the Lord.

When the disciples are together, let’s make it a point to be assembled each time. You do not want to miss out on any of the Lord’s Words.

Collinsville, IL