Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation..." "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" - Psalm 111:1, 10
One Sunday in South America, Luis Pichisaca, the Pastor of our Quichua-speaking congregation, exhorted the people about the importance of being in church. Sunday was market day, and many of the families came to town to do business as well as to go to church. They were farmers, and their whole livelihood depended on the market, where they sold their produce and bought supplies. Many had found that they could make more money if they went to the market first, and later, if there was time, they could go to church. The Pastor said, “If the people in this town walk by and see five or twenty people, they shrug their shoulders and dismiss us as a group of cranks. But if there are eighty or a hundred people, standing room only, more than can fit in this room, they have to say, ‘There must be something to this Christianity! I wonder what it’s all about?’ Your being in church is a witness of God’s salvation to the people outside.” This Psalm reminds us of two important aspects of godly living. First is the importance of giving thanks to God and praising Him “in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” Gathering with other believers and worshiping together is not optional; it’s an important part of following Jesus. It pleases God to see us do this, it encourages other Christians, and it’s a powerful witness to the world around us that God is saving many souls today. The second thing comes at the end of the Psalm, where it says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” That same Pastor Luis reminded the people of this. He said, “It’s far more important to seek God’s blessing on your life and honor Him. He is able to provide for you better than the market.” The Indian Pastor was right. “His praise endures forever!” When we gather and worship Him together, we are launching something that will echo in hearts throughout eternity and endure forever. Lord Jesus, build Your congregation in this place. Receive our grateful praise and worship, and be glorified. Let the world see that You are saving souls today. Amen! Pastor Dan Giles