What emotions arise in your heart when it is time to go to the house of the Lord? (Psalm 122:1).Has it been:

• A reluctance—check your heart, why?
• An indifference—an attitude of questioning what is the use? No expectation or purpose or
• A gladness—for those with an expectation of God

Is it the weight of the burden you carry and the problems that seem to have no end? Matthew 11:28 reveals an open invitation and a promise of rest for whosoever is burdened with difficulty or sorrow. There is a promise of relief and peace, rest both physical and spiritual. In the context leading to this verse of invitation and promise, relying on Him for guidance and salvation is what you must take on and drop you own ways, your own solutions.

If it is indifference, would you honestly look at your life, is there nothing to thank God for? Listen for every two negative things you can point at, there are seven good and positive things around you if you will look for them (Genesis 7:2), and for which you owe God gratitude. What better place than in the congregation of believers, to express gratitude, but there is more waiting for us as Hebrews 12:22-24 affirms. There is a heavenly Jerusalem, the destination of partakers of that blessed hope, the place of:

1. Your place of defence against all attacks of the enemy (Matthew 26:53). At His request 12 legions of angels, equivalent to 72,000 angels would have been unleashed for His defence. If you remember 2 Kings 19:35, one angel killed 186,000 Assyrians. Do the arithmetic. 7 legions would have wiped out the entire population of the world at that time! Then where is your fear? (Romans 8:31-33)
2. General assembly—when this term is used in this present world, it refers to the forum for multilateral discussions of the full spectrum of governance of the nations, approval of budgets etc. How much more would Heaven’s general assembly of which you are be? The phrase emphasizes that God is the rightful ruler and governor over all nations (Psa. 22:28), not just a specific people or region, referring to:

• a future time when all nations will acknowledge and worship God, recognizing His authority and control over the world.
• the Messiah’s future reign, with God establishing His dominion through the Messiah.

The wonder of Romans 8:17, begins to unfold and is further reinforced by the assertion of the church of the firstborn written in heaven.

• These firstborn “rulers” under God and with God, the judge of all (Ephesians 3:10), are granted spiritual authority and bear corresponding responsibility to exercise it. This authority empowers us to receive and use God’s power through the Holy Spirit; and it involves exercising faith, praying and living in accordance with His will. Our corresponding responsibilities include loving and serving others, at this time sharing the Gospel of Christ, while maintain the unity of His body and growing in Him; and in the future, it will be the perpetual proclamation of the God’s supremacy!
• The spirit of just men made perfect
• The manifestation of that great reconciliation spoken to in 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (MSG).

This is what is in store for those who will hear and follow the invitation let us go to the house of God. Selah

Pastor Afolabi Oladele