Scheduling God

When I was a youth leader, a dozen or so years ago, our youth group met on Wednesday nights. Every church with a youth group in our community met on Wednesday night. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Wednesday nights are "youth group nights" everywhere.

But the school system doesn't seem to care. It schedules ITS events whenever it wants to. Just like they scheduled someone to take down the Ten Commandments from their hallways.

The NFL schedules most of its games on Sunday. Most sports teams do. Why? Most people are off from work that day. Sports schedulers are trying to take advantage of that fact. Why? To maximize their income. Those ball players aren't getting any cheaper ya know.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." - Matthew 6:24

That's Jesus speaking. Let that sink in, "Jesus follower."

So, what does the Christian do when our schedule conflicts with worshipping God? Quite honestly, I think that's why Saturday night church services became a thing. Every organization, it seems, is trying to maximize their cash flow - schools and businesses alike. Sunday worship was established long ago on Sunday.

"On the first day of the week, when we were gather together to break bread . . ." - Acts 20:7

"The first day of the week," Sunday, is when Jesus rose from the dead.

All of us make scheduling decisions in life. How do we make those decisions? What are the factors involved? What is more important? Is it God? Or is it the Packers? Is it worshipping on a Sunday? Or tail gating at the big game. The choice is up to us.

I'l leave you with this from Joshua, son of Nun:

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15

Attending church is not a requirement for getting into heaven. The thief on the cross next to Jesus never attended worship, yet he is with Jesus. The thing that God looks at is our heart. Are we worshipping Him every day in our hearts?

“I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” - Jeremiah 17:10