In Psalm 122:1 David says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” That is an attitude we all should share. We should be happy when the time comes for us to assemble with the saints, to spend time studying God’s word, and joining other Christians in offering worship to the God of heaven. It is unfortunate that not everyone has that attitude. In his book, Letters From the Earth, Mark Twain speaks of people who can barely stand to worship with the saints for an hour a week, yet they think that they will be happy in heaven doing that very thing for eternity. Doesn’t make much sense, does it? Think about it, who are the best people in the world? Christians are. Who are the people most likely to be concerned about you and offer help if you have problems? Christians are. Spending time together with “those of like precious faith” is a blessing I don’t think we appreciate as much as we should. In Romans 14:19 the apostle Paul exhorts the brethren, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” In chapter 15 verse 2 he says, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” In 1 Corinthians 14:26 speaking about doing things in an orderly manner when the church comes together, Paul says, “...Let all things be done for edification.” If we are tempted to say that edifying members of the congregation is something for the preacher or elders to do, Paul shows in Ephesians 4:11-16 that edification is something that all Christians are to do. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (vs 11-12). Evangelists, pastors, and teachers equip us for the work of ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ. In verses 15 and 16 Paul says, “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Edification is a very important work of the church; every member should be involved in it. We should all be careful to attend every service of the church because I can’t edify you if you aren’t here and I cannot receive edification from you if you are absent. There are times when circumstances intervene and we simply cannot attend, but if we want to grow as Christians and help others to grow, we will be at services every time we can.