Psalms 26:8 NIV I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.
David had a great desire to be in the place where God’s presence dwelt. We know that David was greatly concerned that he lived in a fine palace but God only had a tent to dwell in. He wanted to built a house for God’s presence to dwell in. Even though God didn’t let David build the temple, he did let him guide his young son Solomon in the building of the place where God’s presence would dwell. The children of Israel place great importance on the Tabernacle because it represented God’s presence among them.
I know that God doesn’t dwell only in buildings and no where else, he now lives in each of us, each of us carries around the presence of God within us. 1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? However, there is something special about coming together in the House of the Lord and worshipping together as the Body of Christ. Many people say that they can worship God anywhere and this is true, but there is something that happens when we come together in one place and in unity that can happen no where else.
I have had people tell me that they don’t miss out on God when they don’t come to the House of the Lord; well I disagree I think you miss out greatly when you are not in the House of the Lord regularly. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25 NIV Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. It is hard to live the Christian life and not be a part of a local fellowship. There is strength and joy that comes from worshiping together. When we stay away from the House of the Lord we are isolating ourselves and anytime we isolate ourselves we are playing right into the Devil’s hand. 1 Peter 5:8 NIV Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Don’t let the Devil convince you that staying at home or doing other things on the Lord’s Day is more important, have the heart of David and a desire to come together at the House of the Lord and expect His presence to be there and expect to receive something from the Lord as we worship together.
