Psalms 122:1 NASB1995 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Oh, how we have fallen from the place we should be!
How do you prepare to enter the house of the Lord? Do you prepare by making sure your vehicle has enough gas to make it there and back? Do you prepare by making sure you have your Bible? Do you prepare by telling the kids what to wear? All of these things might be important but I ask, if you were going to leave for church this coming Sunday and you knew God was going to be there, how would you prepare? Would you spend time in prayer seeking forgiveness for your sins? Would you ask God to help you and your family to come into His presence? Would you dress your family differently? Would you be more excited? Would you get there earlier? Would you plan on staying longer? Would you look forward to coming and praising Him and feeling His Love and correction? Would you tell Him you can't wait to come back again? In other words, would you be glad (rejoice) when you had a chance to come into His house?
Can I tell you something? He is there so you should be doing all those things and more. Not only is He with you now but He is saying I want you to be my guest in my house! This is why the early church came together daily. Oh, but we have fallen so far! Now the church keeps looking for ways to cut the number of times we come into His house. The sad thing is that most do not care about this, because they are not glad (rejoicing) at the opportunity to come to His house.
Let me ask you a question and be honest with yourself. If you received an invite to come to the house for a banquet of your favorite movie star, sports figure, singer, political figure, rich person, world leader, or religious leader, would you prepare in advance? Would you buy new clothes? Would you tell your family how to act? Would you be excited, nervous and glad to get to go? Would you study this person's field of expertise so you knew more about him or her? Would you make sure you arrived on time?
You have an opportunity to come to the home (3 times a week minimum) of the God who created that person. You have been given a personal invitation. He even purchased you, so that you can come as you are and He will make you ready. He knows you by name. He loves you. He desires for you to come.
Are you glad to go to the house of the Lord?
Love Bro. Scott