But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God. Psalm 73:16-17
I sat in the pews as if struck by lightening. All the people around me faded into a blur. The rest of the sermon sounded like background noise. One sentence spoken from the pulpit was all it took. A question I had, a deeply seated doubt, had been answered before I had found the time to really get down on my knees and ask it. From the lips of a man of God came the voice of God. My angst melted into humbleness. God had reached down into my soul and touched me – again.
And to think I had contemplated staying home that day because I was having one of those chronic pain days. Yet experience told me to go. How many times has Satan stepped on my back – yet I got up, got going and later found out why. Each time, God had an answer for me-in the hug of a friend, in the words of a hymn, in the midst of prayer, or from the pulpit. And each time, it humbled me to know He actually hears, cares and responds.
Our God is a creative God. He loves to act and interact through us imperfect humans. Sure, He can speak to us at anytime, but He calls us to come together for a purpose. United we are stronger. The Christian walk is going against the flow. We need to push forward arm in arm and with His help, help each other so we can in turn help others. That is the purpose of coming into His sanctuary.
Until I went, the deepest confines of my heart were still unrevealed. Until I went, I was not able to plainly hear His response. Until I went, I was not yet awed by His grace filling me with His presence and showing me how He can use others and myself to help Him touch lives.
This Sunday, get up and get to His sanctuary. Answers, comfort and strength await you. Who knows, something you do or say may be what the person in the next pew needs, or they may be just what you need. Go, and watch God in action.
