I WAS GLAD WHEN THEY SAID UNTO ME

Don't Give God Only One Day When He Has Given You Seven

Scriptural Basis: Psalm 122:1; Hebrews 10:25

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” — Psalm 122:1

There is something special about gathering with the people of God.

There is something powerful about voices joining together in worship, believers praying for one another, the Word of God being preached, burdens being shared, faith being strengthened, and brothers and sisters encouraging one another along life's journey.

David did not say, “I tolerated it when they said unto me.”

He did not say, “I suppose I should go.”

He said:

“I WAS GLAD.”

There was joy in going into the house of the Lord.

And there still should be.

WE NEED THE FELLOWSHIP OF OTHER BELIEVERS

Hebrews 10:25 reminds us not to forsake assembling ourselves together.

God never intended Christianity to become a solitary journey.

We need one another.

Sometimes you walk into church strong enough to encourage somebody else.

Sometimes you walk in barely holding yourself together—and somebody else's prayer, testimony, handshake, hug, song, or word of encouragement helps you make it through another week.

That is part of the beauty of Christian fellowship.

We worship together.

We pray together.

We learn together.

We rejoice together.

We sometimes cry together.

And when one becomes weak, another can help carry the load.

Don't underestimate the importance of gathering with God's people.

But there is another side to this message.

DON'T LEAVE GOD AT CHURCH

For many people, Sunday becomes their primary—or sometimes their only—intentional time with God.

They worship on Sunday.

They pray on Sunday.

They praise on Sunday.

They open their Bible on Sunday.

They give thanks on Sunday.

Then Monday arrives.

Life gets busy.

Tuesday comes.

Wednesday passes.

Thursday disappears.

Friday brings exhaustion.

Saturday fills with errands and recreation.

And suddenly another Sunday has arrived.

But God did not give us only Sunday.

He gave us an entire week.

Think about what that means.

7 days.

168 hours.

10,080 minutes.

604,800 seconds.

Every one of them is a gift.

And once a second passes, you will never possess that particular second again.

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR 604,800 SECONDS?

Imagine being handed 604,800 opportunities every week to acknowledge the goodness of God.

How many will we use?

You don't have to spend every waking moment inside a church building to worship God.

Worship can happen while driving to work.

Prayer can happen while washing dishes.

Praise can rise while walking through the neighborhood.

Thanksgiving can happen while sitting at the kitchen table.

Scripture can be read before everyone else awakens.

A whispered “Thank You, Jesus” may take only seconds.

You can encourage somebody.

You can forgive somebody.

You can help somebody.

You can call somebody who is hurting.

You can pray for somebody whose name suddenly comes into your heart.

You can tell someone about Jesus.

You can stop for a moment and simply say:

“Lord, I haven't forgotten You.”

SUNDAY SHOULD PREPARE US FOR MONDAY

Church is not supposed to be the end of our worship.

It should help prepare us to continue worshiping.

The sermon should travel home with us.

The prayer should continue.

The Scripture should remain in our hearts.

The praise should survive Monday morning.

The fellowship should produce love outside the sanctuary.

What happened in God's house should affect what happens in our house.

If we worship loudly on Sunday but cannot show kindness on Monday, something is missing.

If we praise God in the sanctuary but never acknowledge Him throughout the week, we are missing countless opportunities for fellowship with the One we were praising.

The doors of the church may close after service.

The door to God's presence does not.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU NEED SOMETHING

There is another reason this matters.

Sometimes we become most interested in talking to God when life hurts.

When the diagnosis comes.

When money gets tight.

When the relationship breaks.

When the child is struggling.

When fear arrives.

Then suddenly prayer becomes urgent.

But God deserves more than emergency conversations.

Don't only call upon Him because you need something.

Talk to Him because you love Him.

Praise Him when the bills are paid.

Thank Him when everybody is healthy.

Worship Him when nothing dramatic is happening.

Seek Him when the sky is blue.

Then when the storm arrives, you aren't introducing yourself to God.

You are continuing a conversation that never stopped.

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOUSE OF GOD

None of this diminishes church attendance.

Quite the opposite.

Go to church.

Find a Bible-centered, Christ-centered fellowship where Jesus is exalted and the Word of God is faithfully taught.

Come ready to worship.

Come ready to pray.

Come ready to hear.

Come ready to give.

Come ready to encourage someone.

Come expecting God to speak to your heart.

And be able to say with David:

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

But when the benediction is given and you walk through those doors—

take your worship with you.

GOD GAVE YOU ANOTHER WEEK

If God allows you to see another seven days, don't waste them.

You have:

7 days to worship Him.
168 hours to thank Him.
10,080 minutes to acknowledge Him.
604,800 seconds in which His goodness can be remembered.

You won't consciously use every second in prayer. God has also given us responsibilities, work, family, rest, sleep, and countless other things requiring our attention.

But through all of them, we can live with an awareness of His presence.

Our entire lives can become an offering of gratitude.

Don't let today be the only day you fellowship.

Don't let today be the only day you worship.

Don't let today be the only day you pray.

Don't let today be the only day you praise.

And please—

don't let today be the only day you tell God, “Thank You.”

DON'T WASTE THE GIFT

Time is one of God's most precious gifts because once spent, it cannot be recovered.

Yesterday's minutes are gone.

Tomorrow's minutes have not been promised.

But the moment God has placed into your hands right now is yours.

Use it wisely.

Love somebody.

Forgive somebody.

Encourage somebody.

Help somebody.

Pray for somebody.

Tell somebody about Jesus.

And somewhere along the way, stop long enough to lift your heart toward heaven and say:

“Father, thank You for another day.”

Go into the house of the Lord gladly.

Worship with God's people faithfully.

Then leave the sanctuary determined to make the remaining hours count.

Because Christianity was never intended to be lived one day a week.

It is a walk with God—

604,800 seconds at a time.

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A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

Father, thank You for the privilege of gathering with Your people. Give us again the joy David expressed when he said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

Help us never take Christian fellowship for granted.

But when worship ends and we leave the sanctuary, teach us not to leave our devotion behind.

Walk with us Monday through Saturday.

Remind us to pray when life is good as well as when life is difficult. Put praise in our hearts, thanksgiving on our lips, Your Word in our minds, and compassion in our hands.

And if You graciously give us another 604,800 seconds, help us use them in ways that honor You.

May Sunday begin something in us that continues all week long.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International
Your Feet to the Nations

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