Punctuality and Regularity
By FLORENCE WHALEY
IN a certain little church which has a membership of about one hundred, every member is in his place before the appointed hour for service. For five minutes before the service begins, only the low strains of the organ break the silence. This brief period is a time for meditation and heart preparation. At its close the minister stands, signals his audience to arise, and for a moment every head is bowed in silent prayer, after which God's servant offers an earnest petition of only a few short sentences. Why should not this custom be established in more churches? The attitude of waiting before the Lord, creates a reverence that lingers throughout the meeting; and surely we desire to have our services characterized by the reverence which is due the One whom we have assembled to worship. Also we ought not to come to God's house late. Imagine that we have an appointment with an earthly king: would we consider it unimportant to meet that appointment promptly? On the contrary, every effort5would be made to be punctual. How much more binding should be our obligations to him whose throne is in the heavens, and whose dominion embraces the entire universe! Looking at the matter of punctuality from a human standpoint, are we rightly regarding the privileges of our fellow worshipers when we arrive three, four, or five minutes after the meeting has begun? Could we not be there when the hymn is announced, and be ready to join with our hearts, if not with our voices, in the first note of praise to God? Our influence upon the children should incite punctuality. They are guided by what we do, as well as by what we say; and by our punctuality we can help them to form right habits. Of equal importance with punctuality is regularity in attendance. Of course there are circumstances which might make it impossible to attend, but ordinarily we have no good excuse for absenting ourselves from the house of worship. Little indispositions or conditions of the weather that would not interfere with personal pleasures, surely ought not to hinder our performance of obligations to God. Religious duties should have first place in the Christian's heart. The apostle has admonished us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is,” but to exhort one another; “and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” We are almost home; but before we gain our heavenly mansion, we are to pass through great tribulations. We shall be deprived of many of the blessings we now enjoy, and among them will be the privilege of meeting in the house of God for worship. Should we not prize more highly our present opportunities, and by our punctuality and regularity at church demonstrate our appreciation of these blessings? God takes account of our faithfulness, and no effort to render acceptable service unto him will be unrewarded.