January 10, 2019 ● 19-03
Psalms 122:1: I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Psalms 122:4: To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord—an ordinance for Israel—to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
Psalm 122 is called a psalm of ascents, which means it was composed as a song the Hebrews sang as they walked up the hill towards Jerusalem. Jerusalem was where the temple was, the center of their worship of God. When you put verses one and four together here is the picture you get: there was gladness when whole families joined together to worship in the house of the Lord. This is how the church grows stronger, when whole families are worshiping together.
Here are 10 statements we make when we come together for worship:
- I am a child of God and love being in His presence with His people.
- I have been powerfully saved by Jesus Christ and am part of His family by faith.
- I enjoy being in the company of other brothers and sisters in Christ.
- I understand being a church member has responsibilities and I want to be used of God.
- I want my family to be spiritually prepared for the attacks of Satan.
- I have a great high priest in Jesus Christ who is acting on my behalf before God the Father.
- I am not ashamed to be associated with others members of my faith family.
- Corporate worship is important to my family and I.
- My regular presence in worship is a testimony to God’s saving grace in my life.
- The teaching and preaching of God’s Word is indispensable for my spiritual health and growth.
Worshiping together as a family truly is a great privilege, a great joy, and a great way to strengthen the church. Let God’s Word equip you to experience the blessings of family worship when the church gathers for weekly worship. Ps. 63:1-4; 68:24-26; 134:2; 150:1-6