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Psalm 26:8-12 I Love the Habitation of Your House

July 19, 2021 | by: Gregg Hunter | 0 comments

Posted in: Psalm 26

One of the truest tests of the believer is how they feel about church. Perhaps not every church, but only the true church. If the Word of God is preached and Christ is glorified in the service, then the true believer will have a desire to be a part of that church.

I have been part of several congregations over the years. There were a couple who seemed more focused on the things of this world than the things of God, and it wasn’t pleasant attending their services. Yet, whenever I have attended a true church, filled with believers who love the Lord, I have felt at home. I have seen this in congregations of less than a dozen, in large mega-churches, and everywhere in between. It is a joy to be in the house of the Lord and to fellowship with His saints.

Yet, there are some people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but they don’t like His church. They feel that the services are a bore, the people aren’t good enough, and their time could better be spent elsewhere. To these people I would warn: if the word of God is being preached and you are bored, perhaps you don’t really know God; if Jesus Christ is being worshipped, and you are not moved to join in the chorus, perhaps you don’t really know Jesus; if you think yourself better than the sinners in the church who have turned to Christ, perhaps you haven’t really turned to Christ yourself.

You cannot love Christ and hate his bride! If you truly love the Lord, then you will love His church. This is David’s sentiment as he concludes Psalm 26.

 

Please read Psalm 26:8-12.

 

“O Lord, I Love the habitation of your house.” Perhaps we have never truly understood this sentiment more than we do now. After a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our brothers and sisters are still not able to safely fellowship in the Lord’s house. When I talk with them, I hear the longing in their voice. They love the church; they miss the church; they can’t wait to be back in church. Let’s continue to pray that they will be able to safely return to fellowship with us soon.

The church is “the place where your glory dwells.” Where two or three Christians are gathered in Jesus’ name, there His presence is with them. As a believer, the Holy Spirit is living inside of me, and the spirit speaks to Himself when he meets his presence in another believer. What a joy it is to be surrounded by believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, worshipping the Lord!

In the midst of this celebration, we too cry out with David: “do not sweep my soul away with sinners.” O God, I love the church! Don’t lump me in with those people who don’t know you and don’t love you; those people who are against you, who demonstrate their sinfulness through murders, evil devices, and bribery. They will one day suffer your wrath. Let me stay in the “great assembly” of the righteous and “bless the Lord”!

Of course, one day this prayer will be answered. We will dwell with all other believers from all time in heaven and worship the Lord. We don’t know exactly what heaven will be like, but we know that Jesus Christ will be there. We will be able to serve Him and worship Him, and that is enough for us.

But, in the meantime, God has given us a mission on this earth. It is a great blessing to come to the house of the Lord, join in with the chorus of the saints, and listen to the Word of God being preached. But we cannot dwell there. God has a mission for you. You must leave the church each week and go out into the congregation of the wicked, spreading the good news of the gospel as you go.

This may be difficult. You may get worn down. You may get persecuted for shining a light in the darkness because the darkness hates the light. You may get frustrated that your loved ones can’t understand the hope that you share with them. But you must persevere!

If it gets too hard, remember that, at the end of the week, you can once again return to the house of the Lord. You can once again join in with the chorus of the saints, and listen to the Word of God being preached. You will once again be refreshed because you “love the habitation of Your house.”

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