Psalms 86:11-13 “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”
The above verses provide us with several reasons why going to church is important. Here they are:
- “Teach me thy way, O LORD” – When God’s people go to church with a teachable attitude, God can teach them. Many believers are a little off-track on their understanding of the Bible because they have not been under the teaching and preaching of godly teachers and preachers.
- “I will walk in thy truth” – Part of having a teachable spirit is being willing to do what God reveals in His Word. We must be willing to put it into practice.
- “Unite my heart to fear thy name” – It is God that must work in us to “will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13) – and He often does this as we hear His Word taught and preached.
- “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore” – Hearing God being praised in song or word by other believers is a blessing and a source of encouragement. It is why meeting with other believers strengthens faith and helps them be more single-minded toward Christ.
- “For great is thy mercy toward me” – Certainly, every knowledgeable believer knows that we not only needed His mercy for salvation, but we also need it every day. Mercy means that God does not give us what we deserve. Thank God that He is willing to forgive, cleanse, and strengthen us as we serve Him.
- “and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell” – This is what we really deserve for our sin. But He, in love, reached down, sacrificed His Son – Jesus Christ, and saved those who have repented and believed. Do you love Him for what He has done for you? “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (john 14:15).
Are you thankful for what He has done for you? The local body of believers meets at church today – will you be there? If you cannot be there in the morning, will you go on Sunday night – or Wednesday?