Psalm 112
1 Praise the Lord!
Happy are those who fear the Lord,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are steady; they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have distributed freely; they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked see it and are angry;
they gnash their teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
I recently had a conversation with some folks who wanted to know why they should come to worship if they didn’t feel like they were getting anything out of it. My first answer was that, if you consistently leave feeling empty, you should probably look for a better fit somewhere else. My longer answer addressed those times, every now and then, when we just don’t feel connected in worship.
Why should we go to church when we don’t feel like it? Short answer: because it isn’t about you! Longer answer: because we are members of the Body of Christ who worship God together. On those days when I’m not feeling particularly inspired, God is still using me to surround someone else in the assembly who may be lonely or struggling with comfort and peace. Sometimes, our call is simply to be present for the sake of the community. And sometimes, we’re there to give glory to God, period.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
During these dark days in the life of our nation and our world, the Church stands as a beacon of light in that darkness. Even though it may not seem like it, we are noticed. People who may have little to no regard for Jesus, or His Church, see us offering the sacrifice of worship and praise. Those who are lost in the hedonistic spirit of this time are stopped in their tracks by Christians who are gracious, merciful and righteous in response to their attacks. The prince of this world has already been overcome by the power of God’s love made perfect in weakness on the cross of Christ.
Prayer: This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine…AMEN