I have had somebody that always wanted me to go to church. When I was younger, I was quite mischievous. I never easily adhered to authority as you have guessed in your mind. Church obviously was not the type of thing I involved myself  in. I had a problem with the whole church thing. I did not understand much of what went on and it seemed to me that time stopped ticking whenever I visited. Yes, I was more a visitor than I was a congregant. 

My mother and I did not always see eye-eye.  Whenever she wanted me to do something, she had to change her methodologies of getting me to comply. To say the least, I was difficult to deal with. I seemed to oppose everything that was unlikable to me. 

Thankfully, being my mother, she was ever so patient, maybe except on Sundays. On Sundays, my mom walked to my door like she could break it open just to remind me that I had church that day. When she woke up, I was the first to be awakened, and yet besides her, my dad slept peacefully. Mother woke everybody up and made sure we all went to church. There was no option. 

I had become accustomed to mom's dealings. So I devised little plans.  My plan was successful only on two Sundays. Foolish as I was, I thought I could deceive my mom more than once. Maybe I did or maybe she just let me for a while. I fell sick only on Sundays. I know that's a common trick globally. I do not know why people want to associate themselves with sickness just to escape doing something that is usually helpful in most cases. 

My mom really tried her best to get me to go to church. Today, she is my best friend and that would have never happened had I not given my life to Christ. My mom never hated me. What kind of mother hates her own child? We just had a strained relationship because I was the problem and I was difficult to be around. 

No one could have been convinced that a guy like me would ever know God. You don't know me, but somehow I feel you believe I cant know God. Don't worry. I don't believe it too. Salvation is a gift. God saves us because of His mercy and love towards us. The only thing that makes one miss salvation is unbelief. It's not shame. Not sin. Not badness. I have been all the kinds of bad you could ever think of, and yet, in my badness, I am saved. Jesus saves!

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8 (NIV)

My salvation, though it came a few years later, started with the loud knocks on my door! My mom knocked so loud it felt like my door would soon break down. I awoke to the irritation of loud knocks on my door. I always locked my door, my mom never had easy access. It's funny to think about now.  My house was full of such exciting moments. You can imagine how the rest of my family felt! They suffered because of a boy that was barely a teenager. And where was my Dad? He was asleep! While  battles went on and on, my dad would sleep soundly. 

Every word that you receive is a seed. Regardless of how long it takes to grow, eventually it grows. My mom started planting seeds when I was just a boy. I never appreciated it then. I do now, more than ever! If you share the word of God in a small fellowship or a big church perhaps, never forget that every word you speak is a seed. And no matter what it looks like, it grows into something so beautiful. If we could all see what  would become of us, if we were a little more persistent, we would be more determined to see what our lives would look like. 

I know for sure you have heard about church. If not, I know you have ideas. Maybe even questions. Why do we go to church? What happens in a church? What is the point of going to church? 

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. - Acts 2:42 (NIV)

I like the version of this scripture. It tells us that the early Church was devoted to something. What were they devoted to? Have you ever devoted yourself to something that was not important? 

Church should be important to us. In Church, we receive the word of God. Now the word of God is a seed that is sown each time you hear it. And as you do it regularly, change starts to occur. I wish I could make more emphasis on the importance of church. 

Our christian friends had fellowship. What discourages us sometimes is a lack of friends in the church, but in the book of Acts, fellowship happened. It's through fellowship that we make good friends. Why is it important to have  good spiritual friends? Because friends shape most of our thoughts. Imagine how strong a christian we would become if we had more of friends that encouraged us to go to church! We could all win in our fellowship and create a synergy that is impenetrable by the forces of the enemy. 

Today, who is knocking on your door? Who is that person that helps you to know God better? Your pastor? Your friend? Your grandmother? Your mother? Maybe even someone that you do not know. Choose Jesus today and enjoy the best life you could ever have! 

Wonderful Father, thank you a million for who you are. Thank you for using the simplicity of the gospel to save us. We choose Jesus whom you sent to us for our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.