July 19, 2021 | by: Gregg Hunter | 0 comments
Posted in: Psalm 27
Oh what a joy it is to go to church!
The enemy has tried many tactics to make us disbelieve this statement, but it is true. The enemy has tried to convince us that church is boring and sober, or filled with holier-than-thou people, or useless for my daily life. He has tried to convince us that there are better things we could be doing like encouraging our children in sports, getting alone in nature, or sleeping in. Even when we resolve to go to church, he makes us feel ashamed of how we look and convinced that others will make fun of us when we walk through the doors.
But, oh the joy that awaits us when we finally walk through those doors! To see the smiling faces of the saints; to hug our loved ones; to worship the Lord with gladness; to hear His Word being preached; to contribute to the work of His Kingdom; Oh the joy!
It is no wonder that David says dwelling in the house of the Lord is the one thing that he desires!
Please read Psalm 27:4-6.
If you could have one wish, what would it be? Would it be for wealth or fame? For health or happiness? For praise and adoration or for peace and quiet? For David, it is to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. May that be our wish as well!
This is the singular desire of his heart. When our heart is divided, we are distracted and weak; but when our heart is focused, we are determined and successful.
David’s heart is focused on dwelling with God forever. His focus is not on meeting his dead relatives in heaven, on having peace from his labor, on experiencing a new, healthy body. We will enjoy all of those things in heaven. But David’s focus is on the true blessing of heaven: “to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.”
What a blessing it will be to see Jesus face to face! How great will it be to understand more of His magnificence! To bow down before Him, to cast our crowns before Him, and to worship Him will be the highlight of heaven. To walk beside Him in the garden, or to sit at His feet and listen to Him teach, or to lay on His breast and feel His loving embrace. To have fellowship with our Lord is our singular focus.
Yet, we don’t have to wait for heaven to experience these things. We won’t experience them in their fullness until we are in the presence of Jesus. But we can get a taste of them when we enter into our Lord’s house.
We don’t go to church to be entertained, or so that others may see our righteousness; we go to church to dwell in the presence of our Lord. Where two or three are gathered in His name, there Jesus is. Can you imagine how strong His presence must be when two or three dozen are gathered in His name?!
If we recharge our batteries each week by basking in the presence of Christ while worshipping with His saints, then we will be better prepared for the trials that will come during the week. David calls these workdays “the day of trouble.” But I don’t have to fear the day of trouble. When trouble comes, God will remind me of the joy I experienced in church this past Sunday, and encourage me with anticipation for church this coming Sunday. With these thoughts, God will “hide me in His shelter,” “conceal me under the cover of His tent,” and “lift me high upon a rock.” As I think about His house and the joy that I receive when attending, “my head shall be lifted up.”
No matter what may come in the day of trouble, I can focus on singing and making melody to the Lord when I return to His house. Don’t let the enemy keep you from church. Allow faithful church attendance to keep you from the influence of the enemy.
COMMENTS FOR THIS POST HAVE BEEN DISABLED.