Church and Soul Food #1

Sure I could skip church.  I have.  Sure I could listen to the sermon online.  There are times I need to do that for one legitimate reason or another (more on that in another post).  But, I still haven't really answered my own question.  Do I really need to go to church?  YES.  I NEED church and so does the rest of my family.  Here's food for the soul and reason #1...

{1. Going to Church Honors God and Keeps Me in the Right Place (Humble)}

Having faith in God, means I have to act on it.  When I go to church, I am renewing my commitment to God each week, giving Him priority in my life.  I am taking time to praise Him with love songs and join with other believers in thanksgiving, acknowledging that all I have comes from God.  King David knew how important it was to honor and worship God in community with other believers, too.  As great a leader as he was, King David took the time to humble himself before God.

“Praise be to you, Lord,
    the God of our father Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
¹¹ Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
¹² Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
¹³ Now, our God, we give you thanks,
   and praise your glorious name.

¹⁴ “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

1 Chronicles 29: 10-14

The key word, for me, in reading David's words form 1 Chronicles 29 is HUMBLE.  David, this powerful, accomplished, and well-known king literally encourages the entire group of Israelites to bow down to God. 

²⁰ Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king.

1 Chronicles 29: 20

The way the entire group of Israelites willingly and physically changes position, lowering themselves, to illustrate and honor God's significance in their lives, really stands out to me in this passage.  The people use a physical action, a change in their own positions at the current moment, letting go of their own importance as established people, to show God they know who is really boss in their lives.  David, himself, ruler that he is, makes deliberate effort to place himself before God to acknowledge God as his sovereign Lord and Savior.  And once David puts himself in the right place, he thanks God for it!  That, friends, is a powerful act of faith.

It gets me to thinking, what change in position, what physical action, do I need to take right now in my life for God?

A prayer for today-

Dear Lord and Savior,

Thank you for being my sovereign Lord and Savior.  I pray you will help me let go of those things that keep me from You and the abundant life you so graciously give those who follow You.  Change the things that need changing.  Help me find strength, through you, in my weaknesses.  Guide me to act on my faith.

In Your Holy Name I pray,

Amen

May God bless you,

This post is part of a series on going to church.  For related posts, feel free to use the links below.

1. Sundays and My Not So Silent Confession
2. Church and Soul Food #2-experience God's Holiness
3. Church and Soul Food #3-make the smartest decision
4. Church and Soul Food #4-join in Christ's family
5. Church and Soul Food #5- renew your purpose