The people of Dallas celebrated the NBA Champion Mavericks in style yesterday with a downtown parade which drew about a quarter of a million people. The fans cheered and danced together in honor of the first Maverick’s championship. For those of us not present, we had live coverage on all the local channels. It seemed there was no other news in the world if you watched the local broadcasts last evening since the parade was the only conversation piece.
Nothing unites a city like a winning team. The parade audience was a true cross-section of the city—all ages, all races, and all levels of income were represented. The people here were one in celebration!
Our souls cheer more together than apart; we have an inner urge to share our exuberance with other people. Why do fans congregate at sports bars and even at the empty arenas to watch big games together? We are built to celebrate in community.
That’s why we need to attend church! It fuels our passion for Christ.
Most people in the U.S. who call themselves Christ-followers go to worship services irregularly, if at all. Some have excuses such as hypocrisy or bad experiences. Many others have filled their weekends with entertainment or work while another group simply wants to chill out on Sunday morning. Some of these may catch a service on television or hear a message online instead. But they all miss celebrating Christ together.
What if we don't enjoy the celebration? It suggests a deficiency in our love for Jesus. There are those who would have hated yesterday's parade--Laker or Heat fans. A lack of joy in the party suggests a lack of love for the celebrant.
If we miss the celebration, it’s difficult to sustain the passion for Jesus. Being in a Christ-centered service places him in the center of our hearts and minds. It fuels our love as we hear about him and sing praises together to his name. Let’s make time and space for celebrating Christ this week and every week.
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