On September 7, 1995, Baltimore’s Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s previous Major League consecutive game record by playing in 2131 consecutive games. Before he was finished, Ripken set the new record at 2632 games, the equivalent of going more than 16 seasons without a missed appearance. When asked why he had never missed a game despite injuries, slumps and personal problems, Ripken responded, “I wanted to be there.”

The owner of a New Orleans restaurant chain served as the president of several civic organizations and also as an Elder in his local church. Despite his busy life and the competing demands on his time, the Elder never missed church services. He wanted to be there.

An obstetrician in Nashville missed only 3 church services in 36 years, despite medical emergencies and baby deliveries. He wanted to be in church.

Luke 4:19 (NIV) tells us that Jesus “went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom…” Jesus could legitimately offer any of the excuses folks today use for missing church – “I’m too busy,” “I’m as good as anyone else down there,” “The religious system is corrupt,” or “I can be just as close to God without having to be in the synagogue.” Instead, Jesus “went into the synagogue, as was his custom.” Jesus, God’s Son, honored his Father in worship and set the example for us. He wanted to be there.

Today, a multitude of activities compete with church attendance. Just 50 or 60 years ago, most businesses closed on Sunday because of “Blue Laws,” sometimes called “Sunday closing laws,” that regulated activities in deference to religious traditions that designated Sunday as a day of worship. But for many stores and restaurants today, Sunday will be the busiest day in the week. Youth activities are now commonly scheduled for Sundays, prompting author Jim Elliff to pen an article entitled, “When Ball becomes Baal,” a not-so-subtle reference to the idolatry of ancient Israel. But here’s the truth: People will be in church when they want to be there.

In obedience to God, that should be all the time. In Hebrews 10:25, the Hebrew writer said, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” That verse not only counsels believers to meet together, it focuses attention on one often overlooked purpose for the gathering. Worship is not only a time for honoring God, it’s also a time to check up on and encourage one another as we walk through the trials of life. Conversations before and after the services often strengthen us as much as the songs, sermon and prayers. We need each other and we need God.

Radio news commentator Paul Harvey illustrated that years ago with a story about a farmer who overturned his tractor, pinning himself to the ground. Unable to escape, he laid for several days in stormy weather before friends from his church rescued him. Although he had to have a foot amputated, the farmer survived the ordeal. Here’s the thing: The reason those friends came looking for him was because he wasn’t at church. He just never missed, so when he wasn’t there, they knew something had to be wrong, and they went looking.

How about an even older example? One of Aesop’s fables tells about a father who wanted to teach his sons an important lesson. He handed a bundle of sticks to each son in turn, asking them to break the sticks in the tied bundle. None of the boys possessed enough strength to break the bundle. The father then untied the bundle, handing a single stick to each of his sons, and each easily broke his stick. “My Sons,” said the Father, “do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.”

Each of us needs to be in the worship assembly, and each of us needs the other to be there, too. On our own, the Devil breaks us too easily. He’s a roaring lion looking for folks to devour.