Psalm 122:1
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."
My family has gone to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night since the day I was born. When I was a child, my parents knew the importance of church and made sure I was in church every time there was a service. When I became an adult and had my own family, my wife and I have continued this because of the importance of church in ones life.
The Psalmist says he was glad when people said to him, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." Church was a glad place for the psalmist. It was a place he looked forward to going. My emotion is the same as that of the psalmist, I look forward to going to church. I'm glad that I get to go to church for many reasons.
First, I'm glad to go to church because it is a place where God dwells. It is called, "...the house of the LORD." Though the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of every believer, church is that place where we look to hear from God in a special way. Church is that place where God's presence can be found. It is found for the sinner who wants to get right. It is found for the lost needing a Saviour, and His presence is found for the saint of God who needs encouragement. This is what makes church a glad place.
Second, I'm glad to go to church because it is a place of prayer. Jesus called church, "...the house of prayer." (Matthew 21:13) Church is a place where Christians lift their voices in prayer for needs. On Wednesday nights, I love the time when the church stops to pray. This time of prayer is what makes church a glad place.
Third, I'm glad to go to church because it is a place where wrongs are made right. He says that there "are set thrones of judgment." This is simply reminding the Christian that you can make your wrongs right in church. That is what I love about altar calls because it is a time when I can get my wrongs righted after the preaching of God's Word. If there is any place where you can get right, it should be in church.
Fourth, I'm glad to go to church because it is a place where drama is made peaceful. The psalmist says, "Peace be within thy walls..." After living in a drama-filled world, you can go to church where the drama of life is made peaceful. Families who are struggling have a time of reprieve from the drama that fills their house. Christians whose lives are filled with drama have a place where the drama is not present. Church is that place where you can find peace from a drama-filled world.
Fifth, I'm glad to go to church because it is a place where the Christian family enjoys each other. The psalmist said that he was invited by others. In other words, he was glad to get to spend time with God's people. Enjoying the presence of other Christians is what helps make church a glad place.
Let me ask you, are you glad when you get to go to church? Don't let church become something you have to do. A backslidden heart will make going to church something you must endure. If you have a heart that is right with God, you will be glad when it is time for church.