Scripture for Today:  Psalms 122:1  “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

The church and bell tower pictured here is what I see from my office window everyday!  It is a beautiful structure and awe-inspiring.  But what is really fun is to hear the bells toll.  The music of the bells differs according to the purpose.  There is the hour, of course.  But a different sound is made for weddings and another for funerals.  Then there is the call, the longest, to invite people to mass.  It must ring for a good ten minutes!  For those who live closer, I cannot imagine how they could sleep through it.

David was glad to hear the invitation to “the house of the Lord.”  In this Psalm, his purpose in going was to give thanks to the Lord, pray for peace, and pray for his brothers and companions.  There was joy for David in the prospect.  He was glad to be going for reasons of praising God and praying for others.

If I am sometimes less than enthusiastic about church, it may be that my attitude is a bit backwards, thinking about what I am going to receive.  If I go to praise God for what He has done, if I go to pray for and encourage others, then I will not be disappointed!  The music may not have been to my taste.  The sermon might have seemed dry.  But in fact, it is not only about what I receive.  The biggest joy in going can be what made David glad: Praising God and praying with and for others!

There is gladness in going to the house of the Lord.  May I have the same heart as David.