The Road to Worship

by Catherine Osornio
Published June 14, 2005

It is difficult to describe one’s feelings when traveling Highway 1 from Jericho to Jerusalem for the first time. This is a land of contrasts: Bedouins grazing their sheep a few hundred yards away from villages with T.V. antennas on the roofs; camels foraging for food in the valleys as tour buses motor by; and ruins of ancient buildings with modern structures sitting over the next hill.

It is true you must go “up” to Jerusalem. You are ascending from an area some 1300 feet below sea level to elevations varying around 2500 feet. The pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem would sing the Songs of Ascents, Psalms 120 to 134, as they walked the long road. They were preparing their hearts and minds for worship.

It took us thirty minutes in our air conditioned bus to make that long arduous climb. It would have taken the travelers hours. These were not trips made daily. These were special occasions to celebrate Passover or Pentecost or the other specials feasts that the Lord required of His people. They came from all over just to come and worship.

How far are you willing to travel to worship the Lord? How are you preparing your hearts to praise Him? Are you traipsing into service at the last moment as the final note of the organ or guitar is heard? Is your mind concentrating on the message or on the argument you had with the kids on the drive to church? We need to have an attitude of worship since it helps us focus on God and His word. We need to get to church on time, even if it means getting up earlier. We need to ask the Lord to keep our mind focused on Him. We need to lift our hearts in song to clear out the junk that so often prevents us from hearing how much He loves us.

We don’t need to wait for a special occasion to worship the Lord. We can praise Him any time. Show Him you love Him. Take the time to worship.

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