Young Christian, form the habit while young in your Christian life, that when there is a meeting, you are going to be there, and you will be blessed for it unless you have a definite word from the Lord that He does not want you to go.
Students often can make a lot of excuses for missing a meeting, and teachers can too; for that matter, anyone can. But we have seen dear young Christians who have never questioned staying away from a meeting. They felt that when there was a meeting, it was their place to attend, and they were present. And at school they passed, and made their grades too; they steadily went forward and they made a good record. They were not slovenly in their grades, and what is best of all, they kept happy in their souls!
So do not deceive yourself by thinking that your school work, or other duties, have a right to keep you from assembling with God's people. If you want to be happy in the Lord, and go on in the truth, take advantage of the meeting together of God's people. Form that habit. Do not even raise the question, Shall I go, or shall I not go? but leave that question entirely out; take it for granted that you are going.
There are some young people who, if they miss a meeting, no one ever knows it. There are other young people who, when they miss a meeting, the next time we see them we inquire why they were not there, and they can always give a satisfactory answer. But is it not a sad reflection when someone can stay away for quite a while, and no one ever says a word about it? In such a case, they just take it for granted that such a person does not come regularly, and for that reason is not expected. But, if we are faithful to the Lord, it is evidenced that our desire is to be with God's people. God's people get to depending on us to be present. They want us to be there, and they feel it if we are not there, because they depend upon us as a source of help.