A Call To Worship

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!  ~Psalm 107:15
For my family, Sunday is a day of worship. I look forward to it each week as a source of strength and revitalization. I gain a great deal from hearing the preached Word of God and taking part in the fellowship of like-minded believers. Yes, I gain a great deal from worshipping on Sunday, but what I get out of worship is not what's important or the reason why I worship. It is solely because of God's goodness and grace and mercy; it is because Jesus made it possible for me to go before God myself and worship the only One worthy to receive it.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble  ~Psalm 107:1, 2

Those who know of God's infinite mercy and of the perfect sacrifice offered by Jesus on the cross of Calvary, have plenty of reasons to worship on Sunday. Those of us, who can see a reason for worshipping God, have tasted of His kindness, and seen the miracle that only He can work in our lives. It is the rest of the world who ignores Him and refuses to give Him the praise and the glory only He is due. I understand the feelings of the psalm writer when he exclaimed "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness"! They may not worship Him now, but there is coming a day...

So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  ~Matthew 13:49, 50

Recognizing God is the only One who deserves our worship and Jesus Christ is Lord, is something that can only be put off for awhile. The world may refuse to admit it now, but time is winding down to a close and the way of the wicked and unbelieving is drawing ever closer to the inevitable end Jesus spoke of in the book of Matthew. If only they would recognize and praise Him now! Are we to take pleasure that in the end there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth?

Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?  ~Ezekiel 33:11

If we do find ourselves taking pleasure that the wicked will be spending eternity in hell, then we should reevaluate our own walk with the Lord. Do our own desires align with those of God's? Have we shared the truth, or the reason why we worship with those who don't? For me, it saddens my heart to see others spending their Sundays enjoying the day without thanking the One who makes it so. I love God and I look to Him for what the day may hold. Praise Him for the day; praise Him for what it brings! Maybe if I live my life as one who is openly thankful to God then others may ask why.

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!  ~Psalm 57:9-11