If you are like some others, you are probably curious about what this article is going to address.  This article will not address playing through pain, nor will it address how to wrap an ankle for a football game, and it certainly will not give instructions on how to recover from a hamstring injury.  What this article will address is a problem throughout the brotherhood.  The problem simply stated is this, too many of us put sports and leisure activities before our service to God, and when we do that then we are committing sin.  God wants to be, and deserves to be, first in our hearts, and first in our lives.  If we miss a Wednesday night service to play a baseball game, then we are committing a sin against God, and are making ourselves victim to sports injuries.  Hebrews 10:25 reads, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  We need to be present whenever the Saints assemble so that we can exhort, and be exhorted, or strengthened.  Just as in sports, the best way to avoid injury is constant practice, conditioning and strengthening, so is the case in our service to God.
    Also, If we give priority to sports or leisure activities, what kind of influence will we have on out teammates?  Will we be salt?  Will we be a city set upon a hill?  Will we be a light to those who are in darkness?  Read Matthew 5:13-16, what do you think those who see us away from where we are to be will think?  Will they see us and think of how faithful we are to what we should hold most dear?  No, they simply will not!
    Satan still rules in this world, and unfortunately he gives many the idea that it is okay just to miss a service when there is an important game, or when the water is just right for fishing, or when our favorite football team is playing on television.  These are among Satan's numerous lies, and these are no less serious than the lies that it is okay to take just one drink, or that if we cheat no one will ever find out, so what does it matter.  Wrong is wrong, and no situation can justify a child of God doing that which is wrong.  What would we think if we saw preachers or elders taking their children away from services to attend a ball game, could we justify that?  How then is it that some among us can justify missing services when there is nothing better, or more helpful, for the Christian than to assemble with the Saints?