Good morning. Anyone who has participated in a sport event knows about the home field advantage. Even if your participation in that event is as a fan rather than a player, you know about home field advantage. Sport after sport, team after team, it is proven that there is an advantage to playing on your home court, diamond, field, or course.
I believe that there are reasons why this is true. There is greater energy when your home fans are cheering you on. Consider a basketball team that has been struggling to keep a game close, and then for one reason or another the fans in the stands become engaged and excited. There is an energy created in that sudden excitement and increased interest, and that energy often sparks the team on the floor. They try harder, and their defense is rewarded. They concentrate more, and the shots that were missing begin to go in. The fatigue that was slowing them down is forgotten and strength is renewed. The team that was losing pulls out a win.
The fans in the stands are not handling the ball, shooting it, or playing aggressive defense. But those fans may well have affected the outcome of the contest. Strength and resolve appeared out of nowhere, weary players had a new look in their eyes.
Many people wonder if it is truly important for them to physically attend worship. I know, for some that physical act may not be possible, but I am thinking of others who are making a choice. I have heard some say they can worship God better from a boat while fishing, enjoying the quiet beauty of the lake. I have heard others suggest that they worship well from the golf course where they feel at ease and enthused. Worship? Really?
There is nothing like coming together with like believers to worship our God. We push together toward the same goal of spiritual renewal. Worshipping together sparks an enthusiasm, ignites an energy, shares excitement, creates a godly blessing. Worshipping together unleashes the power of praise that is needed to sustain any and every Christian person as we make our way through the challenges of the week ahead.
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord. Psalm 150
Claim that home field advantage today and worship the One who is worthy!
Vern