Hey Church!

As you make your plans for the weekend, I want to encourage you once again to carve out adequate space on Saturday night and Sunday morning to prepare your hearts and minds for worship. It is so easy to slip into the habit of simply “showing up” to church, like an appointment that suddenly catches you by surprise despite being scheduled days in advance. But I am reminded today that God takes spiritual attendance on Sundays and not merely bodily.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).

His eyes scan the worship center (and your living rooms when worshiping remotely) not to count heads, but to search your innermost thoughts and weigh the intentions of your heart–whether you have come to serve Him or yourself. That should be a sobering thought! Even still, the grace of Jesus is so great that He personally stands “in the midst of the congregation,” praying and singing over you with love and pleading to the Father on your behalf (Psalm 22:22; cf. Heb 2:12).

So let’s set aside the things of lesser importance that may distract us from the awareness of His presence, and prepare a worship offering that is suitable for such a gracious and merciful God. Resolve in your heart, with King David, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing” (2 Sam. 24:24). And then seek to lay down your whole self–your soul, time, energy, and agenda–upon His altar as a living sacrifice this Lord’s Day.