Reverence For God's House

Reverence For God's House | June 22, 2024

In His infinite wisdom, God has chosen and set apart a holy place where He meets with His people. Second Chronicles 7:15-16 says, "My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honoured forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart."

When God proclaimed that He would be attentive to prayers made in "this place," He did not have just one specific location or moment in mind. The promise transcends time and place where God's people gather for genuine worship, including prayer, singing, giving, sharing, and teaching His Word. When people gather in His name, He is there, especially in the church.

While some may say this promise is reserved for the Old Testament, that simply isn't true. What we see here is a foundational piece for reverence, and with our New Testament perspective of the Gospel and the resurrection, we should be all the more reverent for God's house. Reverence, by definition, carries the idea of a deep and authentic respect.
That is how we are to view God's house. Once we cross the threshold and enter, we should exhibit calmness and quietness. Sure, it's good to talk about the ball game or a new restaurant we like, but there comes the point when we must lock into God's presence and honor Him with our undivided attention.

With this in mind, let us enter God's house with reverence for Him and His Word. Let our words be few, and let us focus increasingly on His plans.