Worship God Where You Are!
Local Christian congregations, anywhere in the globe, are designated as houses of worship, where God’s people gather to render Him homage and visibly to manifest the communion of saints. Thank God for this reality, especially in nations where tyrannies still prevent such public displays from occurring.
Nevertheless, it is not only within sacred walls that one’s worship should be offered. Christians are to worship God wherever they are, at varied times of day or night, sometimes alone, other times in the company of fellow believers. The chief end of humans is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!”
Worship can be variously defined, but an underlying element of its practice is that it must occur beyond the exclusively “religious” setting for its manifestation. Christians must recognize that whetever they do is an act of worship, whether it occurs at home, at work, in their neighborhood, at their leisure times, and in many other settings. It may be to the true and living God, or it can be to an idol of some sort. May it always be to exalt and magnify the Almighty, creator and sustainer of all things!
I am always impressed by Abraham’s understanding of this issue. Thoughout the book of Genesis we find him repeatedly building altars, whether in the desert or in a city, to celebrate God’s goodness to him and his family, and as a tangible expression of His worship of Jehovah, and recognition of His worthiness!
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, at the beginning of his ministry in his native England, thought at first that some religious practices should occur only within a church building, erected for such specific purposes. Yet, through the instrumentality of his friend and fellow evangelist, George Whitefield, John Wesley was led to move into cow pastures, preach among coal miners, and occupy other open settings where greater multitudes were reached with the Gospel message, and where a large congregation gathered to worship the true and living God.
It has been reported that a very special lady, who preceded her famous husband in death, had a plaque by her kitchen sink, proclaiming: “Divine services are conducted here three times a day.” In other words, she realized that even in her washing of dishes, silver wear, pots and pans, she was worshipping God, just as Brother Lawrence, long before, had also acknowledged the same, while he labored in his monastery’s kitchen, and learned “Practicing the Presence of God.”
Church attendance shall always remain a “must” for the Christian; worshipping in the company of God’s redeemed is part of what God ordained for His redeemed. Yet, one cannot limit true worship only to those times and locations.
God is pleased to receive our praises at all times, places, and circumstances. He alone is worthy of our worship, and at every turn we find reasons to give Him glory, and to recognize His majesty over all things.
Thus, wherever you are, under whatever circumstances you find yourself, anywhere on earth, be sure to worship the living God with the same fervor you should retain when you are at a major gathering, in the company of a great or small number of those who also render to God their reasonable worship (Romans 12:2).
