By
Shelby G. Floyd
The sweet Psalmist of Israel yearned to be in the presence of Almighty God:
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Psalms 84:1-2 NIV).
Where God is worshiped God is present. David longed to be present in the temple courts at Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Later in this same Psalm he said,
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Psalms 84:10 NIV).
If assembling to worship God and to be in his presence was such a priority under the Old Testament, how much more should we desire to assemble with the church to worship on each Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10)? Jesus taught that God is a Spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
Let us exhort one another to love and good works by faithfully assembling with the church each first day of the week: “…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-26). Our number one desire should be in the presence of God: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalms 73:25 NKJV).
We live in a time when worldly pleasure is the chief pursuit of most people. But with God’s people our joy and pleasure above all else should be the presence of God: “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:11 NKJV).
Heartland members, let us be more faithful and work more diligently than we have.
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God (Psalms 42:1-2 NKJV)?
Our goal is to consistently have a full house present each Sunday. If being in the presence of God is our priority, our friends will notice and want to be with us.
Note:
“Draw Near To God” is a sermon I presented online July 12, 2020 and can be viewed at the following address: https://www.heartlandcoc.org/onlineworship
Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142
shelby@thefloyds.net