On September 7, 1995, Cal Ripkin, shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, became the first man in baseball history to play in 2,131 consecutive games. When asked why he was always there and never missed a game, he said it was because he wanted to be there. It wasn’t that he never got mad at the Coach, or the Umpire, or the fans, or the other players. It wasn’t because he always felt just perfect or never had a personal problem. It wasn’t because the weather was never too hot, or too rainy, or too windy. He was always there, BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE THERE.

There was a lady from Augusta, Georgia, who had not missed Bible class or worship service in 44 years. That’s 2,288 Sundays! Why do you think she was always there? Do you think she ever had company that came in at the last minute or was ever too tired to come? Do you think she ever had a headache or a cold or indigestion or nervous spells? Do you think she ever wanted to sleep late on Sundays, or ever had her feelings hurt by the preacher or the elders or some member? OF COURSE SHE DID! But she didn’t believe that was a reason to “forsake the assembly.” SHE CAME BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO, and she knew it was the right thing to do.

There was a man who was an elder of the church in New Orleans. He owned a chain of restaurants, and over a period of time he was president of 33 different business and civic organizations. Yet, he never missed one service of the Church. He was always there. Why? – Because he wanted to be. Just like the well-known obstetrician in Nashville, Tennessee, who was also an elder in the Church, yet even with his extremely busy schedule and patient emergencies, he only missed three services in 36 years. Why did he always make arrangements to be present to worship God? BECAUSE HE WANTED TO!

In the late 1950’s there was a very popular prime-time television show called the “Miss Patti Page Show.” It came on every Wednesday night. There was one couple, during that time, who never got to see the show because they were at Bible study. They were Patti’s parents. Even though they loved Patti very much, they felt it more important to seek the Kingdom first. Why were they always at Bible study and never missing services to watch their daughter’s show? BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE THERE!

If you could boil them all down to the main reason as to why, the answer would be, because they WANTED TO. Whether we realize it or not, 99% of all we do in life is because we want to.

“Choose you this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

Think About It!

Have A Great Day!

Tom Moore
Park Heights church of Christ
P. O. Box 107
1300 East Boynton Street
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.parkheightscoc.com
http://harrisandmoore.org
https://fromthepreacherspc.org/
http://www.syfirst.org
http://preachersfiles.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/list/preacherspc/

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes.”