At this time we are living, most of us are not able to attend church. We meet each Sunday online, which has sweetly ministered to our hearts and minds, filling us with encouragement.
If you are like me, this time is making you realize how wonderful it will be to gather once again. This is the joy we find expressed in Psalm 122:
“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the
Lord. And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.”
(Psalm 122:1-2, NLT)
They understood it was there that their souls would be satisfied and their spirits lifted in the midst of all that was occurring in their everyday lives.
They treasured their time together, time in which they would worship corporately and hear God’s Word.
What are the lessons we can glean from these early sojourners in Psalm 122:
- Take every opportunity. “Let us go into the house of the Lord” (verse 1). This was a trek to Jerusalem, but it was a journey they knew was worth their effort. We cannot let the lure of a leisure Sunday in rob us of gathering together. May we not forget this time of isolated worship but instead, may it fuel our desire to be present with other worshipers every week.
- Pray for those in authority. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (verse 6). Jerusalem was the place for corporate worship and the seat of their government. Our most important civic duty is to pray for those in leadership in our countries, regardless of whether we agree with them or not.
- Pray for one another. “I will say now, “Peace be within you” (verse 8). Why? For the sake of our family and friends. For the good of others. We belong to one another, need one another, and must help one another.
“How lovely is the sanctuary in the eyes of those who are truly sanctified.”
(Matthew Henry)
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
I have certainly missed being able to go to church. Our church is open for people to go in and sit by themselves for quiet prayer and reflection. I’ve been in a few times. It’s very peaceful and reminds me that it is a house of God...not a house of people. Though I do miss the people.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful to be able to go sit for quiet prayer in your sanctuary!
DeleteThank you for sharing the lessons from Psalm 122. My biggest struggle is not having IRL community. I especially miss my family. I am going to continue to pray for one another as we all maneuver this unknown time we are living in.
ReplyDeleteMary, like you, I miss my family tremendously. The photo you shared of you waving to your grandson through the window made me cry. May we all keep one another in prayer and keep holding onto the hope of being together soon. {{Hugs}}
DeleteMarie, I so agree. It is amazing how Scripture is so relevant to our current daily experiences. And I am so grateful for the encouragement we can draw as we share His Word. Thank you for blessing me with your words!
ReplyDeleteJoanne,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this beautiful reminder that "we belong to one another." I have really felt God's call on my heart that I am responsible for helping to take care of those next door or around the globe who are really hurting right now. I do miss being able to "do church" corporately. Hopefully it will make me appreciate the opportunity to do so once we can meet together again.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, may we grow in our love for others in this time of separation. I am praying we will come through this with a greater desire to serve one another. xo
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for virtual ways of meeting, but I do think our current circumstances are showing us just how valuable it is to be able to meet together in person. I hope the day when we can again comes soon.
ReplyDeleteI so agree, Barbara. When we emerge, may we not take coming together lightly. I hope it comes soon as well!
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