When was the last time you played The Trump Card?I'm not much of a card player, but I understand the trump card. Name your game: Bridge, Spades, Hearts, War . . . trump cards rule!
One of my favorite trump cards is the Wild Draw Four in the game of Uno. Holding a Wild Draw Four is like holding your opponents future in the palm of your hand. Dropping that card is like landing a "Macho Man" Randy Savage Elbow Drop in professional wrestling. But I digress.
Thinking about trump cards got me thinking about the church. These days it seems that just about everything trumps the church. A soccer match trumps the church, a half-marathon trumps the church, an NFL game trumps the church, a weekend getaway trumps the church, even a couple of extra hours in bed trumps the church.
Don't get me wrong. Playing soccer, staying fit, watching your favorite team on the gridiron, enjoying family time, and getting rest . . . these are all good things. But when does gathering with God's people trump the other activities of life?
Think about this for a moment: Jesus said he would build the church (Matthew 16:18), Jesus gave his life for the church (Ephesians 5:25), early believers couldn't get enough of the church (Acts 2:42-47), and the writer of Hebrews said don't neglect gathering together with the church:
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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 10:24-25 ESV)
When was the last time you played The Trump Card? This weekend, put your time, your energy, your heart, and your body where God does. Give priority to gathering with the people of God.