The Lord's Day

 

Write From My Heart/ /September 26, 2020 / The Lord’s Day

Psalm 27:4-5 (NIV) One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

            God’s people are in a time of temporary “church-attendance fluctuation,” at least that’s what I call it. Some states allow open church attendance and some states do not, while many states agree to allow partial capacity church attendance. In some states, the rules for church attendance change with the whim of politicians of that state. As a result, churches are continuing to seek ways in which to engage the members even if it means requiring reservations as restaurants do in order to meet state-mandated requirements for church capacities or offering online services or both. Who gets to go? Who stays at home? Who has means of online worship? It’s quite the conundrum for those of us raised in homes where church attendance was the expectation—not out of duty—but out of love for our Heavenly Father. We looked forward to the Lord’s Day with Sunday School, morning worship, evening worship, and Bible study & prayer on Wednesday evenings. For some of us, we attended choir practice before worship on Sunday evening or else on Wednesday evenings. Gradually, Sunday evenings have been dropped by many churches. But the point is: this has been a drastic change in the lives of many of us, which in turn, only results in causing an increase in our feelings of isolation.

            I firmly believe God understands our current situation and he knows our hearts. Perhaps if we are willing to pay attention he may even be working in our hearts, using this time of isolation or semi-isolation to teach us that our worship focus is our LORD. Perhaps all the attention-getting bells and whistles to entice worship attendance is leading us away from the primary purpose of worship—specifically, to honor and show reverence for God.

            As we mentioned in yesterday’s devotion, the Psalmist David spent years fleeing for his life. He seldom had opportunity to visit any local facility to engage in worshiping the God he so dearly loved. But he made every opportunity to worship where he was. He didn’t let it slide. He spent hours in prayers of concern, prayers of thanksgiving, joyful song. His Bible was most likely the combination of verbal recounting of historical events (i.e., God’s wonderful deeds) and the view of God’s creation surrounding him.

            I truly look forward to the day when the politicizing of worship attendance ceases, the day when we are free to gather in the Lord’s house to worship once again. Until then, I won’t let worship slide. I’ll study my Bible, spend time in prayer for both concerns and praises, sing songs in my heart—but always keeping my focus on my Heavenly Father. It is the Lord’s Day on Sunday, but it is also the Lord’s Week. Perhaps this is the lesson we are learning independently in order to revive true worship in our churches when we meet again.