“All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory; I created them.” (Isaiah 43:7 TLB)
Leaving the house on a Saturday morning to experience some much desired fresh air, escape the shut-in doldrums, and to exercise by walking, we decide to stop at a strip mall and go to some of our favorite stores. I park several feet from the store to ensure we added to our steps. We enter the first store, not looking for anything particular, not seeking to purchase anything. There are arrows telling you which way to walk to ensure proper social distancing. The way you have to follow the confusing arrows, you are guaranteed to get exercise trying your best to go the right direction. Every time that I would go the wrong direction, disregarding the arrows because the aisle was not occupied, my wife would let me know to follow the arrows. We do need help, all of us do at times, to make sure we are going in the right direction in many areas of life.
We were exercising, right? We were window shopping. Yeah, right! Window shopping implies or involves looking only. But you know for yourself how quickly window shopping gives way to wanting to do some buying. That’s what happened to us. We purchased pots and pans, pretty things to wear, and even a perfect black watch that was just setting on the impulse aisle in one store. In the store next door, we brought more. There was only one more store and I found a “much needed” pillow to place on the couch at home. The fresh air search turned into a few dollars of unplanned spending. The escaping of the shut-in doldrums was replaced by shopping; not one of our initial objectives. Oh we got the exercise, laps around the stores, and lugging heavy bags of merchandise. Yet, in reality, even though we enjoyed ourselves, we forgot out initial purpose.
Today is Sunday, the day where you go to attend church in person or virtually, the latter only because of the pandemic or due to perfectly good and acceptable reasons. So on this Sunday, let me suggest to you that you do not forget your purpose. You are not going to church to be entertained, but to be edified. You are not going just to get out of the house, but you are going to enter His house to worship Him in spirit and in truth. You are not going just to get some fresh air, but that the sweet, sweet Spirit will fall fresh on you. You are not only going to get practice for your future in glory where you will praise the Lord all day and all night, but you are going to get the sent, preached word, specifically sent word from above for you. You are not going to criticize the singers, but rather you are going so you yourself can sing unto the Lord a new song. You are not going with your guard let down so Satan can get you so focused on what’s going on around you that you cannot gladly receive what God has for you. If you attend in person, you are not there to critique the way people are dressed, but you are there to be clothed in righteousness; clothed in what can be called a perfect fit for the righteous.
It’s Sunday and when you attend worship, when and not if, make sure you remember your initial purpose. That way you will come out better. You will come out not carrying heavy baggage as I did on my Saturday shopping outing. You will come out with your load lightened, your spirit lifted, and your heart loaded with joy! Get going now and don’t be late! Give God the glory and give Him the praise! Be blessed!
“All the nations that you’ve made will come and bow down before you, Lord;
they will glorify your name, because you are awesome and a wonder-worker. You are God. Just you.” (Psalm 86:9-10 CEB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King