Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.
On Sunday, March 17, 1996 Dad showed up to church sporting fresh bandages and with dried blood still caked in his hair. He had been shot in the line of duty the night before. While none of his wounds were serious, still HE HAD BEEN SHOT THE NIGHT BEFORE!!! Several times people exclaimed that he should be at home in bed and asked, "What are you doing here?" Dad's reply, "Where else would I want to be?" After what had happened, being in God's house and worshipping with His children was the most desirable thing Dad could imagine. While this is somewhat extreme, shouldn't our thoughts be the same each week?
1 Cor. 5:9-10 "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world."
We are surrounded by sin on all sides all day, all week. We've stopped flinching when we hear the Name of the Lord denigrated. We find the vulgar commonplace. We no longer cringe at the completely inappropriate clothing worn by most everyone. We need refreshing, re-centering, renewal.
Ps. 42:4-5 "These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation"
The purpose of going to the House of God is to be built up. Are we feeling cast down? in turmoil? Remembering that we can go to God's house again should be a remedy. Is your faith hanging by a thread? Are you nearly ready to give into the temptations that are battering you? Don't stay away from church in shame that you don't measure up; those are the time we should be even more eager to go to the House of God. "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together" (Heb 10:24-25) We go to be encouraged. To be strengthened. To help others and to accept help.
Isa. 30:29 "You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel."
Going to the House of the Lord should be a cause of joy. We are working towards spiritual Zion (Heb. 12) and that describes Heaven in Rev. 21. The earthly extension of that Kingdom, that City, is the church. Fellowshipping with, edifying and being encouraged by our brethren while we worship our Father is as close as we can get to heaven on earth.
Where else would we want to be?
Ps. 122:1 "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'"
Lucas Ward
On Sunday, March 17, 1996 Dad showed up to church sporting fresh bandages and with dried blood still caked in his hair. He had been shot in the line of duty the night before. While none of his wounds were serious, still HE HAD BEEN SHOT THE NIGHT BEFORE!!! Several times people exclaimed that he should be at home in bed and asked, "What are you doing here?" Dad's reply, "Where else would I want to be?" After what had happened, being in God's house and worshipping with His children was the most desirable thing Dad could imagine. While this is somewhat extreme, shouldn't our thoughts be the same each week?
1 Cor. 5:9-10 "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world."
We are surrounded by sin on all sides all day, all week. We've stopped flinching when we hear the Name of the Lord denigrated. We find the vulgar commonplace. We no longer cringe at the completely inappropriate clothing worn by most everyone. We need refreshing, re-centering, renewal.
Ps. 42:4-5 "These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation"
The purpose of going to the House of God is to be built up. Are we feeling cast down? in turmoil? Remembering that we can go to God's house again should be a remedy. Is your faith hanging by a thread? Are you nearly ready to give into the temptations that are battering you? Don't stay away from church in shame that you don't measure up; those are the time we should be even more eager to go to the House of God. "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together" (Heb 10:24-25) We go to be encouraged. To be strengthened. To help others and to accept help.
Isa. 30:29 "You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel."
Going to the House of the Lord should be a cause of joy. We are working towards spiritual Zion (Heb. 12) and that describes Heaven in Rev. 21. The earthly extension of that Kingdom, that City, is the church. Fellowshipping with, edifying and being encouraged by our brethren while we worship our Father is as close as we can get to heaven on earth.
Where else would we want to be?
Ps. 122:1 "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'"
Lucas Ward
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