“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1)

When you wake up Sunday morning, does this verse express your feelings? Would you rather go to the beach or lake or maybe the golf course. Maybe you’ve had a tough week, and the idea of sleeping in and taking it easy is more appealing to you. Will your trip to God’s house be one of joy or one of doing a job?

The Israelites loved going to the temple to worship God. They often came long distances on foot or other basic transportation. Expense, hardship, lost time meant nothing to them because they had the opportunity to be in God’s presence. In New Testament times, the saints rejoiced in the opportunity of meeting together in the spiritual house of God to pray and praise.

Today, in the free world, no law stands in the way of those who want to go to the house of the Lord. No persecution, no hardship causes us to pause outside the doors of a house of worship, and yet many, yes many, of the free world stay away. One hour a week is no longer a measure of pleasure for believers. The reasons and excuses we use for our absence indicate that going is not an act of gladness.

Task for Today: Rethink your attitude about worshiping God. In the presence of God do you find happiness? Is a ball game more fun? What about the sun and sand of the beach? When you contemplate next Sunday morning how will you finish this statement: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let’s go to….’”