Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders and the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.

“If I walked into that church, the walls would fall in on me!” Have you ever heard someone say this as a response to you asking them to join you at church service? Not only have I heard it, in fact I have been the one saying it. Even in the toughest of times before my salvation, I would rather face problems alone. I felt as if I could be the master and commander of my life. I realize now how hurtful and penalizing that attitude was to me. I literally put myself in a tough spot just to forsake gathering with Christian people and listening about God.

Now I hear people say, “I do not have to go to church to be saved.” There is truth to that statement. Salvation is of the Lord, and He can save someone anywhere and anytime. But during times of great tumult in Israel, God called His people to gather. He told them to gather in a sacred assembly, gather the elders and the young. Then God specifically states, “Gather in the house of the Lord your God.” There is a reason why. Jesus says where two or three are gathered in my name there I will be.

Tomorrow is the day that church doors will be open all across America. Young, old, male, female, black, white and brown will come to their local houses of worship to praise the name of Jesus. You have been commanded to go to the house of the Lord by God Himself, so be one of the millions going to celebrate God. I am sure someone out there will be saved tomorrow outside of church, but the next step is to be in a church.