Not neglecting to meet together

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
(Hebrews 10:23-25 (ESV)
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful… not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some.
We just don’t tend to be too faithful. Jesus is. He is faithful, faithful even to forgive. But holding fast to the confession of our hope without wavering is not always that easy. The author to Hebrews suggests that one way to keep the faith, is to not neglect meeting together.
So often it seems that since we are justified by faith alone, we are safe to go do whatever we want. Far be it from me to impinge on a Christian’s Freedom. I like to make the best use of mine I can. But faith has a way of dying on a person, this is what is meant by going on sinning deliberately, in the next couple verses, walking away from the faith, not living in accord with the Gospel. It can be so easy to lose faith. This is why God has instituted the office of pastor, this is why we have church on Sunday morning. Church is here to keep one in the faith, strengthening it, reinforcing faith in the life of the believe. This world is so full of sin and temptation, we need it for ourselves. We need the rest of the Sabbath, that is the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. He is our Sabbath rest, because he forgives sins, and the forgiveness of sins is the only thing that provides us rest from this evil and wicked world.
When we neglect to meet together, we cut ourselves off from the means by which God has called us to the faith, and means to keep us in the faith. We cut ourselves off from the word of God, and from the sacraments, and a community of friends and fellow Christians offering us support and encouragement. This is why I morn the absence of so many on Sunday morning, but rejoice to see those who do not neglect but come to hear Christ, eat Christ, drink Christ, and have their sins forgiven yet again.