Time Out for Worship
Scripture Reading — Psalm 100
Give thanks to [the LORD] and praise his name.
Psalm 100:4
In one of his books George Barna, a leading church growth consultant, tells about two men in their mid-thirties who find themselves one Sunday morning on a Country Club golf course. He describes them as “born-again Christians who have eliminated church life from their busy schedules.” Instead of attending church, they worship, as they put it, at the “Church on the Green.”
According to Barna, within the next several years more and more people will follow the lead of those Sunday-morning golfers and opt out of church attendance. A recent church periodical stated that “from high school graduation to age 25, there is a 42 percent drop in weekly church attendance.”
Whatever the reason, eliminating public worship from our lives will prove to be a great loss. Throughout the Bible, whether at an altar, in a synagogue, in the temple, or in their own homes, God’s people gathered together to worship the Lord.
God himself calls us to worship. Our busy lives demand it. The church is called to provide opportunities for people to come together to praise God, be renewed, and be challenged to live out their faith in everyday living. Taking the time to worship benefits our marriages, strengthens our families, and empowers all our relationships. Make sure worship is on your agenda today!
Lord, we thank you for this special day you give to us. Thank you for the privilege of public worship. Be also with your people who do not have the freedom to worship. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!