Once you find the life you were meant to lead, it sure feels good. And you better stick with it.”
–C. Wayne Winkle (Judd’s Journey)
“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
–Matthew 10:39 (NKJV)
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Verse 8, caught my attention right off. Let’s put a New Testament slant on it. Do you love to attend church? Do you enjoy the word being preached to your soul, or is it a drudgery to go? Or take it one step further; since our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit – how well do we take care of it? Is it tarnished, does graffiti adorn its walls, is it defiled by the things you take, eat, drink, or watch? Hmmm…
Let’s take a look at verse 6-12 of Psalm 26 (HCSB). It’s such a powerful, insightful chapter in the Word of God.
6 – I wash my hands in innocence and go around Your altar, Lord,
7 – raising my voice in thanksgiving and telling about Your wonderful works.
8 – Lord, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides.
9 – Do not destroy me along with sinners, or my life along with men of bloodshed
10 – in whose hands are evil schemes and whose right hands are filled with bribes.
11 – But I live with integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.
12 – My foot stands on level ground; I will praise the Lord in the assemblies.
Do we tend to take the Lord for granted? Here is David, he cannot be satisfied with serving God in private for he must go to the sanctuary directly to the altar to praise the Lord. The altar–oh my, how many churches still have altars? In fact, there is a clamor from the more enlightened, sophisticated crowd that altars are archaic, and only belong in the Old Testament.
“I love thy Church, O God! Her walls before thee stand,
Dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand.
For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.”
–Timothy Dwight
Again we see the similarity of Job and David. Even in the midst of evil schemes and the wickedness of the world they both proclaim they live with integrity. Another similarity, even though they say they are individuals of integrity, they both understand the need for redemption. They/we all need the grace of God to be poured out upon us.
True worship builds confidence, resolve, and trust that will help us get through the snares of evil. True worship helps us maintain our integrity. True worship shows our humility. We need to worship with passion, not foolishness.