Exodus 20:4-6 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
In the giving of the Ten Commandments, God identifies Himself as the one who gave freedom to the Israelites. Then He commands them to worship Him. From how high this commandment is on the list of ten, we can surmise that worship is one commandment that if not obeyed could lead to the breaking of the other commandments down the list such as murder, stealing, and adultery.
Hebrews says to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:22-25 emphasis mine)
The highest joy and privilege of every family is gathering with the body of Christ for worship. Christian parents must bring their children to church in order to worship together as a family, sitting on the same pew. No doubt worship should also be done in the home but worship with the body of Christ on the Lord’s Day should be of utmost importance (even in a pandemic.) After all, this is not a suggestion, but a command. Do not forsake the assembly of believers on the Lord’s Day.
