We all have reasons why we don’t go to church on a particular day, or for weeks, months, or even years on end.
When someone asks us were we go to church we might even say that we have private worship, or that we were too busy.
We might even say that we needed a break from worship, or as I have heard some say, We worship at St. Mattress, and Father Pillow? but then I think about these words from Hebrews 10:24-25, 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.
Luther once said that we break the third commandment when we do not attend public worship. We might also be worshipping another God when we skip church.
That is exactly what the people who told me that they worshipped at St. Mattress and Father Pillow, were really saying? that their God was ‘sleeping-in? on Sunday morning.
Few could really fathom the number of people who say that they cannot come to church on Sunday, because that is the only day that they can sleep in. What would they say if you asked ‘why don’t you sleep in on Monday, or Tuesday, or any of the other days of the week??
Invariably they would say, ‘Oh, but I have to work that day.? It would seem by their comment that their boss would not tolerate their tardiness, if they were to sleep-in.
But, I have to wonder if God desirers their absence any more than their boss? You might also ask if I am trying to make you feel guilty?
But I don’t have to, you will do that all on your own. You already know what is right and what is wrong.
When it comes right down to it, when we skip out on God, we are sinning? period. It really does not matter if we are breaking the third commandment, if we have skipped worship because we have another God, or if we are sleeping in.
In God’s eyes, all are sins, and they are all equal. They all cause us to deserve eternal death.
Harsh punishment? Well, given that God told us not to sin, or we would die, I suspect that since we were warned, just like our boss tells us not to sleep-in on a work day or we will be fired, that the punishment is fair.
We are God’s children whether we believe in Him or not, and since we are His, He alone gets to set the punishment. Whether we like the punishment or not, it is reality, just like your boss will fire you if you are late for work. Your boss won’t tolerate your sleeping-in, and neither does God.
But unlike your boss, who after firing you, would not be likely to hire you back, our heavenly Father welcomes you back into the family of God, when you repent of your sinfulness, and believe on His only Son, Jesus Christ. God would never say to us, ‘Oh, you messed up, you can’t come back no matter what.?
Instead, our Heavenly Father welcomes us back into His fold when we repent of our sins? no matter if we break the third commandment, or have another God that we have put before our Father in Heaven, or if it is something else.
Repenting, and believing on Christ Jesus as our only Savior, we are restored to sonship with Christ, by Christ’s Death and Resurrection.
What a wonderful Father we have. When we do wrong, he gives us a second chance, in fact, He daily continues to give us opportunities to repent and receive His forgiveness until He calls us out of this life? He really does want us to amend our sinful lives and live in Heaven, but do we?? or would we rather worship Saint Mattress and Father Pillow and not go to heaven?
I know what God wants. God the Father would have you repent and be saved unto Eternal Life forever, and ever. Repent, believe on Jesus Christ, and live eternally with Him!
The Rev. Todd Kelly is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church.

We’re all susceptible to spending a fair amount of time and energy evaluating the lives of others, passing judgment on whether or not they are doing the right thing in their lives.
But what really should matter to us is how we’re doing with our own lives.
The Bible warns us that we should not look with contempt toward others because of what they may or may not be doing.
The reason? It’s simple. We will all stand before the judgment seat of God to give an account for ourselves (Rom.14:10).
That said, we should be much more concerned about whether or not we are doing what’s right, and less concerned about what the other guy does.
Doing what you know is right can be one of the best things you can do with your life. It liberates you from fear and guilt, and enables you do look to your own future with confidence as you seek to make the most of your days.
Just this morning I saw a news report about a woman who had chosen to do the right thing after being engaged in an evil activity for eight years.
Recently, her conscious began to bother her, and finally she came to the point where she could not be involved in this activity any longer. She had to do what was right ? and she did.
And the result? She’s happy and feels clean. She’s looking forward to the rest of here life knowing she’s done what’s right.
Like this woman, we are all confronted with decisions as to whether or not we are going to do what’s right or not.
It might involve cheating or lying. It might involve some immoral, unethical or even criminal activity. Whatever the case, we all face such choices.
Making the right choice can be difficult. You may have a lot vested in staying with a way that’s wrong. And making the right choice may bring down all kinds of undesirable consequences.
But, it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong (1 Pet.3:17).
When Joshua led the people into the promised land, he warned them that they would have to contend with the old idols of their past and new idols that they would face.
And in the midst of that challenge, they would have to choose who they were going to serve. Would it be the idols of their heart, or the God who made them and sustained them?
‘Choose this day whom you will serve,? Joshua said (Jos.24:15).
We must choose the same.
And how do we make that choice? By the grace of God.
In His grace, God sent His Son Jesus Christ so that we would be forgiven for all the times we have chosen the wrong. And by the same grace, He empowers us to choose the right from this point on.
The Rev. David Bostrom is pastor of Seed for the Harvest Ministries.