"A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”" vs1

There's something that gives us joy; it's serving the Lord from a sincere heart among his people. He's connected loving him with loving others. 1 John 4:21, "The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." As we do this, we have the joy of the Spirit, which is not of this world.

We must be born again, and trust God. Seek your joy where God's giving it, and you will find. Live all out for God's church.

Secondly, thank the Lord in his house. Live for his honor, and preach the gospel.

Psalm 122:3-4 — "Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD."

The worship service is not the celebration of man. Praise the Lord by conducting yourself according to Scripture. Live among the saints in the high exaltation of God. Honor him by believing the gospel, and proclaiming his benefits.

God's gracious to us. He's the reason we're not in hell. He gave up his Son to remove our sins. 1 John 4:10, "In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins." He gives us obedience. These are all reasons to thank God, and put him first. This is why we live for his glory - because he is worthy, and he is Lord.

Serve him with fear and great joyfulness [Acts 9:31]. Remember what he's done, who he is, and what he's doing. He's currently securing you by grace to an eternal glory, where you'll receive what Christ died to give!

Thirdly, those who love God's people are secure. Your faith brings forth fruit. It's not merely talk. You love God's people as evidence that you love God.

Psalm 122:6 — "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!"

Those who love the church are secure from false conversion. You have the Holy Spirit in your heart, causing you to forsake selfishness for the welfare of many. 2 Timothy 2:10, "Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." Like Paul, you give up your rights to benefit the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:19-20, "For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law." You are not bound by human opinions, but you set aside certain liberties to preach Christ more effectively, because his people and his glory are more important than your life.

You walk with God humbly, and you're safest while loving his people. This great testimony of God's work in you proves that you are a wise hearer who's in the middle of God's will. You are blessed with his protection, though the world or circumstances may stand against you. Confidently go to him in prayer, saying, "Help me to help your people." He will give grace, fellowship, and peace. He will assist your great request.

Finally, seek the good of God's people. Don't separate salvation from service. They go together like breathing out follows breathing in.

Psalm 122:9 — "For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good."

Make every sacrifice, and be fully committed.

When God restored my soul, I had to be with the church. He gave me love, and something to give. I had to testify about the Christ who helped me. He also made me guilty, if I forsook the assembly, and I realized that I had to meet with the saints, even if only to give, and to help someone else.

To this day, our relationship with God - whether we're hot or cold - is revealed by how we treat his people. If we're indifferent to the saints, gathering as a mere formality… when our heart is elsewhere… then we have wandered from our God. If the salvation of the elect is not more important than our ease, then we won't labor for them, and we'll waste our energy on ourselves. When we're all about Christ, however, then there's full engagement. We're communing with him in his goodness, as we prioritize a gospel witness to our neighbors and the world.