THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 14, 2014 - Day 122 - Psalm 122

Why go to church? I can worship God anywhere. How often we hear this refrain from those who do not attend a church on a regular basis. Psalm 122 is a quick glance at why we gather together on Sundays.

Psalm 122:1-9
A SONG OF ASCENTS. OF DAVID. I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!" Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem— built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! "May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!" For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, "Peace be within you!" For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.

The simplest reason to why we attend church is because it is a Biblical command.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

As Christians we have been freed from the chains of the OT law, but that freedom has not given us total ability to just run around doing our own thing. God used the men of the Bible as inspired by His Holy Spirit to give us a way of life and He recorded it in His Word so that we could grow in holiness and in love to be more like Christ. As that quote from Hebrews says, we are to “to stir up one another to love and good works” and to be “encouraging one another”.

As the day of Christ’s return draws near we can clearly see that life gets harder and harder. By attending church we not only bring glory to God by public worship but we strengthen and help each other.

The greatest witness we can have for Jesus is to let the world see the peace we have in the midst of the conflicts and trials of this life. Church is the place we train for the spiritual battles of life and it is the place we develop friendships that provide us the support and encouragement we need to keep fighting.

This is what church needs to be. People worshipping God by loving each other as Christ loved us. As the psalmist says here in verses 8-9, Psalm 122:8-9, "Peace be within you!" For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

Blessings to all who read these words.