Guest Post: "God is Waiting on Us"

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “church attendance during the summer is up and down; that is, members are either up in the mountains or down at the beach!” Church attendance during the summer months does fall off. We go on vacation; or we use Sunday mornings for sleeping in or reading the paper with that second cup of coffee. I’m as guilty as the next person.

Regardless of the season of the year, however, the work of the church goes on. It is there for worship, fellowship, weddings, funerals, and, of course, meetings. Whether or not we support the church with our presence, time and treasure, isn’t it nice to know the church is always there when we return, opening its “arms” to its members? And so it is with God. He is always there for us, even when we sometimes don’t think of Him, or even when we turn away from Him. No matter how poorly we honor our call as Christians, God patiently waits for our return. Think of the father, standing at the end of the road, welcoming his prodigal son with open arms. Jesus closed his Great Commission to the disciples by stating: “And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NRSV)

So...let’s all set an alarm, put off that second cup of coffee (or have it at church!), write a check, and make it to church this summer. God is waiting on us!

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Tim Eichenbrenner and his wife Carolyn joined Sardis in 1989. Their children Stephanie and Brian were raised in the church. He is in the private practice of pediatrics with Novant Health. Tim is currently serving on the Session and as one of the teachers in the Crossroads Sunday School class.