“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and counsel one another with all wisdom, through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” – Colossians 3:16

It was a crisp fall Friday afternoon when our three-year-old son, Jennings, decided to serenade all of Bellefonte with a rousing rendition of ‘I have decided to follow Jesus.’ While we are a very musical family, Jennings usually isn’t our singer. Except for this special Friday, this was the day Jennings decided he had something to say and was ready for the stage. He started singing at regular volume as he worked his way from the car to the house, and by the time he hit the porch, he had cranked it up to full blast. 

Now, normally, this would be about the time that I would remind my kiddo that we have neighbors and to bring it down just a little, but there was something so mesmerizing about the manner in which he sang. The sheer volume alone demanded your attention, but it was the way that he sang with the conviction of a seasoned soul that caught me. He placed such emphasis on “I. Have. Decid-ed!” as though he was stressing that this is a declarative statement-full stop. And with each declaration, he swung his arms and placed his hand on his heart. I was so proud and so humbled. I would like to take credit and say that this is a constant hymn in our home, and that we alone have poured into our child, but that simply isn’t true. I couldn’t help but think he wouldn’t have gotten this if we had just stayed at home. I stood in our yard, witnessing such a holy moment, full of gratitude for the congregation of believers who created this special scene just for me, and as he took a lap for another verse, the tears began to flow as he painted the picture of ‘the world behind me, the cross before me. No turning back.’

It is often said that you get out what you put into something. While that is generally true in life, I can give an endless account of all the ways in which a merciful God has rained down blessings on me in my absence from the work. But rather than see my blessing as a ‘get out of church free’ card, shouldn’t it be used as a reminder of grace, on top of grace, on top of grace, on top of salvation? Should I use this upfront soul-filling in place of the counsel and fellowship of believers-their wisdom and teaching? Allow it to take the place of church participation and Christian trench work? To quote Paul, “God forbid!” (Romans 6:2) What if instead of doing what is easy and comfortable, we bury our old self once and for all, step forward in the new body of Christ, and choose to live in earnest for our faith, no matter the personal cost? After all, for us Christians, to live is Christ. (Phillipians 1:21) This week, I want you to ask yourself, have I really, truly decided to follow Jesus? No turning back.

If you are looking for reasons as to why church attendance is hard, I’ve got them. If you are looking for excuses, I’ve already used them. If you are scanning over your list of negatives for the Church, come sit by me, and we can compare notes. But this is what I know: I witnessed an impromptu concert with holy, eternal ramifications, all because we shifted our focus and placed priority on putting our butts in the pew whenever possible. There will be days that this is the most you can muster, but I can promise you your efforts will be rewarded. And just maybe, your fellow pew partner will be blessed by your presence.

So, see you Sunday? I’ll be the curly-haired lady down front, wrangling her children, so very glad to see you.

-Mycah Pemberton, Interim Youth Director