Psalm 122:1 – I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." (NKJV)

Some time ago, one of the regular contributors to these PresbyCan Daily devotionals wrote about the joining of two churches in the town where she lives. In the devotional, Sacred Cows, she commented on the fact that some of the members were quite anxious about how blending two different worship styles was going to work out.

She and I corresponded about this a little bit, and we discussed the different ways that worship is experienced in different churches and denominations. I mentioned the different churches that we have attended over the years as we moved from place to place: Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Austria, England, the Middle East, and also while on vacation to various other countries.

There have been so many different ways that we experienced worship. There were churches with fixed orders of service and others where things were more spontaneous. In some churches, communion was served as people knelt at the communion rail, while in others, we sat in the pews to be served. In other traditions, we went to tables set up at the front of the church. Some served wine in a common cup, while others used little individual glasses. Some served wine and others grape juice. Dipping (or intincture) of the bread in wine or juice in a common cup was also done in some churches.

The music was so different as well. In the traditional services, especially in Europe, there were pipe organs and big choirs. In others, there were praise teams with a piano, keyboard, drums, and guitars. There were some where no musical instruments were used at all. People who get used to (and insist on) only one way of worship should visit a dozen other churches!

Nevertheless, the psalmist tells us always to come to worship, wherever we are:

Psalm 150 – Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! (NKJV)

As we attend different churches, whether by choice or out of necessity, it is great to see that God is worshipped and adored, that prayers are offered in Jesus' name, and that hymns of praise are sung. Whatever situation we find ourselves in or wherever we are, it is good to go to the house of the Lord for worship.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, it is good to know that on any Sunday, we can go to Your house to worship You with fellow believers. We are thankful indeed, and we offer this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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