Sunday-Church
Isaac is the only person I know who asks all day long on Saturday “Is it Sunday?”
He says
“Sunday church ?”
“Sunday church ?”
“Sunday church?”
He says it over and over again...
I tell him “No son, it’s Saturday. Today is Saturday.”
“Then Sunday church he says”
He knows it’s coming soon...
He is not excited so much about the worship songs or Bible teaching...
He is excited to see Miss Victoria.
He is excited to color pictures.
He has autism.
(I know many reading this already know Isaac has autism, but for those do not, I share it again)
So we can easily write it off in a conclusion:
Isaac has autism.
He has special needs.
He likes coloring.
He isnt really excited about church, he is excited about coloring.
..... maybe....
Nonetheless, I have learned something from Isaac’s obsession with Sunday church.
Isaac is excited for church because he is expecting something good!
He is expecting something great!
He looks forward to church with excitement, joy and enthusiasm!
This is greatly convicting to me.
Am I waking up on Saturday eager, enthusiastic and ready to hear from the Lord?
Or do I go to church as a routine?
Sometimes I have a heavy heart and I am eager to worship with uplifted hands and surrendered heart. Other times, like during Easter I am excited about celebrating Christ’s resurrection.
I don’t see church as a routine or obligation- but maybe, sometimes I do.
Isaac taught me this today.
If I flashback to the days I was dating my husband, I would eagerly wait for our dates.
We would discuss what we planned to do and enjoy each other’s company.
It was the highlight of the week “date night”
After 20 years of marriage, dinner discussions are more like this
“Chicken or fish”
“Or left overs?”
We still date and look forward to alone time, but that’s not the point. We can get too comfortable in relationships and we can get too comfortable with God.
Let’s ask:
Am I eager, enthusiastic, obsessive even over the fact that I GET to attend church?
Our brothers and sisters in China can be arrested for worshiping Jesus corporately...
I am not trying to put a guilt trip on anyone..
I am simply pointing out that with the SAME enthusiasm kids have about opening gifts on Christmas and the same eager relentless anticipation Isaac has about coloring at church, we should have this same enthusiasm about meeting with God on Sundays.
Sundays are not just for a “tune up” to our spiritual motor.
Sundays are a day set aside to focus on God, meditate on God, think on Him, read God’s Word, attend a Bible teaching church, pray, praise, cry, serve together and yes greet your neighbor.
Church is not a perfunctory have to, it’s an enthusiastic GET TO.
So once again, my sweet almost 12 year old special needs boy taught me something. We should hunger for these precious appointments with God... whether it’s a corporate Sunday meeting or midweek service, or EVERY day Bible reading ... We should celebrate these moments and relish the opportunity to praise, confess, give thanks, lay burdens down and learn of God.
