God's House
Opening Prayer
God, I want to live in the perspective of eternity. Open my eyes to what is real.
Read Psalm 122:1-9
[1]A song of ascents. Of David. I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” [2] Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem. [3] Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. [4] That is where the tribes go up- the tribes of the LORD- to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel. [5] There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. [6] Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. [7] May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” [8] For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” [9] For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How much value do you put on being part of the church?The pinnacle of greatness in the kingdom of God prior to Jesus’ second coming is the glory of Christian community. The church is the New Jerusalem “in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph. 2:22). Worshiping God is no longer restricted to pilgrimage to a special place (1,2), but it is located in a pilgrim community which is called to take the kingdom of God to the world.Pilgrimage can reflect a single-minded pursuit of God, which we’d be wise to emulate. The ancients looked joyfully towards Jerusalem (1), but we look with certain hope to “the city that is to come” (Heb. 13:14). What might you need to sacrifice to develop a pilgrim’s urgency for reaching the goal, in terms of working to see others move forward in their spiritual journeys? God’s people pray for peace and unity in the city of God (6-8). As God’s “new” city people, what advantages do we have over these “old” covenant people, since Jesus became our peace, creating “in himself one new humanity” (Eph. 2:14,15)? What responsibilities does it give us, to one another and to non-believers?
Apply
Consider how you are investing in the growth of God’s people. Ask God if there are ways he is calling you to do so.
Closing prayer
Thank You, Lord, for my hope of reaching the city whose builder and maker is You.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.