Habits

It’s been said, you make your habits and then your habits make you. In other words, your habits will determine your future. A habit is defined as “an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.” Consistent choices determine the habits that are developed in each area of our lives. So since we have a choice in the matter, why do we settle for bad habits that limit what we really desire out of life?

One of the reasons is because bad habits usually don’t show up until much later in life. They usually don’t cause us too much pain initially, but eventually there will always be consequences. One of the most underestimated and powerful habits you can develop in your life as a believer is the habit of going to church on a weekly basis!

You may be thinking, “I know pastor, I need to get to church, it’s important, my kids need it, blah, blah, blah.” So to help you realize the power of this habit, let’s look to our Ultimate role model & Redeemer. How did Jesus view church attendance?

In Luke, chapter two, we see that when Jesus was twelve years old he accompanied his parents to Jerusalem for the annual Passover Festival, which they attended each year. After the celebration was over they started back home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind. His parents assumed He was with friends among the other travelers, but when He didn’t show up, they started to look for him.

“After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And He said to them, “Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:41-49)

Our ultimate goal in life is to be conformed into the image of Christ, (Rom. 8:29) and to be about our Father’s business as well. Notice that Jesus equated being in the temple, going to church, being in God’s house, learning, asking questions and growing as “being about His Father’s business.”

In light of that, are you about your Father’s business? Can we find you in the temple each week?

I realize how easy it is to get out of the habit of attending church each week. Life gets busy; you have to work overtime some weekends, the kids’ catch a cold, life happens. And before you know it, it’s been weeks, months, maybe even close to a year or so since you’ve been to church. Then there is the dilemma of not wanting to answer the infamous question “So, where have YOU been?”, when you finally do decide to attend again.

But you HAVE to break that habit. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not neglect our church meetings, as is the habit of some people, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back is drawing near.”

Jesus had the habit of going to church (the Temple). Luke 4:16 says that “When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.” He went as usual. In other words, this wasn’t a hit and miss occasion for him; it was a habit. Up to 90% of our normal behavior is based on habits. Once a new habit is well-developed, it becomes your new normal behavior. Make going to church your “normal” behavior and start being about your Father’s business starting this week!