Do You Desire This One Thing?
Today’s Verse:
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. ~Psalm 27:4
As I write this devotion, our entire state is under a shelter-in-place order. Everyone is under orders to stay indoors and to avoid contact with other people except for family and essential needs. In addition, gatherings such as church services are banned. We have had to resort to livestreaming the preaching to keep our church family connected in the worship of God. With this anticipated to last a few more weeks, do you miss going to church? Do you miss real church? Do you desire to dwell in the house of the Lord?
We see the priority.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). It is God’s will that His people assemble together for worship. The centrality of worship is the preaching of God’s Word. When we worship, we bring our tithes and offerings to the Lord. When we worship, we pray together. We fellowship and take care of one another. The doctrine of the church is something we hold precious. Our duty to the church is to come with other members to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire at His temple.
We see the passion.
“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.” David had one driving desire in his heart: to spend all the days of his life in the house of the Lord! In fact, he said, “That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.” Some people have a dream destination where they hope to live the rest of their days. David’s dream destination was to dwell in God’s house all the days he had to live. Are you passionate about being in church like David was? Are you passionate about being in a church service? About hearing the preaching of God’s Word? About serving the Lord? About the giving of tithes and offerings? About participating in soulwinning?
We see the pursuit.
David said, “That will I seek after….” David was not a wishful thinker. He determined to pursue making the house of God the place of his spiritual abode. The lesson for us is that we have the Lord’s house always on our heart and mind. We should build our lives around the schedule and practices of the Lord’s house. The most important calendar event should be, “What’s going on at church?” It might sound extreme to some, but David’s pursuit meant that his life’s schedule was based on the priority of being in God’s house. We have services three times a week. Knowing this, we can work our schedules around church attendance. Instead of being reactive, we must be proactive.
So, do you desire to dwell in God’s house? Do you desire to make God’s house beautiful? We must reevaluate our passion for God’s house and instead of being indifferent, we must have a burning zeal. David referred to this as this “one thing.” May the house of the Lord be “the one thing we desire.” Let us confess our sins to God and pray for a divine cure to COVID-19 and that we can soon resume the corporate worship of God.
Have a church-centric God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ruth 1-4