Psalm 122:1

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” — Psalm 122:1

When the psalmist declares, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord,’” he is recalling the deep joy he felt when the Israelites journeying to Jerusalem invited him to join them on their way to God’s sanctuary. This verse paints a beautiful picture of a people filled with gladness as they encouraged one another to come together and worship the Lord at His tabernacle in Jerusalem. For them, going to the house of God was never a burden or a lifeless routine, it was a privilege and a blessing, a joyful celebration of God’s presence dwelling among His people.

Today, this verse seems almost the opposite of what we see in many people’s lives. So many are hesitant, wounded, disheartened, or simply uninterested in coming to church anymore. For unbelievers, that may be understandable but when this weariness comes from believers themselves, it becomes especially heartbreaking and discouraging.

Jesus mentions seven churches in the book of Revelation, yet only two were found walking rightly with Him. The others had fallen into compromise, pride, or spiritual apathy. That shows us how even in the early church so close to the time of the apostles, not every congregation lived in full obedience.

There was a season when I was deeply hurt within the church. I no longer felt glad to attend; instead, it became a burden. One day, I opened up to my pastor about what I was feeling, and he shared something that stayed with me ever since. He said there are five stages of offense that every believer must overcome in order to grow into spiritual maturity:

1. Offense toward yourself
2. Offense toward your family
3. Offense toward your church brethren
4. Offense toward your pastor
5. Offense toward God

I’ll share more about these stages another time, but it led me to ask a question: Why does offense happen inside the house of the Lord?

When we read Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we see that out of the seven churches, five were rebuked by Jesus for things He had against them. This means that not all churches are consistently walking in His will or faithfully representing Him. Yet did you notice that Jesus never said they were not His church. Even those struggling with sin, compromise, or spiritual deadness were still His. Their failures did not erase their identity in Christ. Paul echoes this truth in 1 Corinthians 1:2 .

Paul still called the Corinthians “the church of God” even though their background and behavior were far from perfect. Their immaturity, divisions, and moral struggles did not disqualify them from being God’s people. So why does offense happen in the church? Because every one of us is “in progress.” We are all being transformed into the character of Christ, but none of us have arrived yet. We still wrestle with pride, misunderstanding, hurt, and weakness. The church is not a gathering of perfect people. It’s a place where imperfect hearts are learning to be healed, forgiven, and changed by grace.

We are commanded and expected to be gather together.

We are not only encouraged but commanded and expected by the Lord to gather together. Jesus Himself promised that whenever we come together whether we are few or many. He is present among us.

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” — Matthew 18:20

When Jesus instituted the breaking of bread, He gave a clear command to His disciples:

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” — Luke 22:19–20

The Lord expects His people to gather and remember Him through communion. He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” From that moment, the disciples never stopped gathering together. They met continually to love one another, praying together, and rejoicing in fellowship.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.… And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” — Acts 2:42, 46–47

The Apostle Paul also reaffirmed the Lord’s command when he wrote to the Corinthians:

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.… For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” — 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Finally, the writer of Hebrews reminds us of the importance of gathering together:

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” — Hebrews 10:25

Even in the time when the book of Hebrews was written, there were already believers who had begun to forsake gathering together. That is why the writer strongly emphasized the importance of assembling with other believers. We are all commanded and expected to gather, because we are the Body of Christ. A body cannot live if it is separated from itself. Likewise, when believers isolate themselves from fellowship, their spiritual strength begins to fade. Gathering together keeps the body alive, united, and growing in the presence of Jesus, who promised to be in our midst.

We are commanded to love one another.

Jesus did not give us a suggestion to love other, but as a command.

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” — John 13:34–35; 15:12, 17

Even when we were lost in sin and had completely forgotten about God, Jesus never forgot about us. He chose to die for us and rise again so that we could be reconciled to the Father. His love reached us at our lowest point even when we were undeserving, broken, and far away. Yet He loved us still.

When Jesus said, “As I have loved you,” He was saying, “Love others the same way I loved you when you were at your worst.” His love is not earned by our goodness or perfection, it flows from His very nature. He loves because that is who He is. And so, His command to us is to love others in that same way not only when they are easy to love, but even when they hurt us, misunderstand us, or fail us. Because that is exactly what we did to Him, yet He never stopped loving. When Jesus hung on the cross, He looked beyond the pain and saw the joy set before Him, the joy of seeing us restored, forgiven, and reunited with Him forever. That is the kind of love He calls us to give.

The Apostle Paul and Peter repeated this truth in his letter to the Romans:

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” — Romans 13:8

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” — 1 Peter 3:8

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8

Paul and Peter both urge believers to love fervently with compassion, mercy, and gentleness. Love is the fulfillment of the law. When we truly love our brethren in Christ we will not harm them through gossip, bitterness, or any action that causes pain. We will not covet what belongs to them, nor allow envy to take root in our hearts. Love naturally keeps us from sin because it seeks the good of others above ourselves. True love also knows how to overlook offense. It means choosing to love rather than to hate, to show mercy instead of judgment, and to seek peace instead of conflict. 

And the Apostle John beautifully reminds us that love is not just an action, it is a reflection of God Himself.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” — 1 John 4:7

To love one another is to live like Jesus. It is the true mark that shows who we belong to. When we walk in love, we reveal that we are children of God, reflecting the very nature of our Father. Jesus said, “I do what I see My Father doing.” In the same way, when we love others, we are mirroring the heart of our Father in heaven. God is love, and when His love flows through us, the world sees Him living in us.

We are commanded to forgive one another.

Jesus made it clear that forgiveness is not optional, it’s a command for every believer. He said:

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” — Matthew 6:14–15; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37

Then Jesus became even more specific about how we should deal with those who wrong us:

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” — Luke 17:3–4

Jesus teaches that forgiveness must be continual and sincere. We forgive not because people deserve it, but because we ourselves have been forgiven.

I challenge you to think about how many times a day you fall short before the Lord. How many times you seek His mercy and expect Him to forgive you. If God forgives us every time we repent, how can we withhold forgiveness from our brothers and sisters when they hurt us?

We often sin against God intentionally or through carelessness, yet He still receives us when we come to Him in repentance. Shouldn’t we, then, show that same mercy to others? Whether their apology seems sincere or not, our responsibility remains the same to forgive. As we have received forgiveness from God, we are also expected to extend forgiveness to others.

The Apostle Paul also reminds us of this truth:

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:31–32

Paul urged the believers in Ephesus to put away every form of bitterness and replace it with kindness and tenderheartedness. Sadly, many today forget this instruction. I often see on social media people venting their pain and anger about how they were hurt or offended by their church. My heart breaks when I read those posts, because the church, no matter how imperfect is still the body of Christ, purchased by His own blood. None of us are perfect. When failures happen in the church, we must remember that even those within ministry leadership are human and in need of grace.

I was especially heartbroken when I saw what happened to the Hillsong Church.
What happens when people do this? when they attack or speak harshly against the church? How can we tell if those actions are from God or from the devil?

It’s simple. Look at the result. Do their actions lead people to repentance and bring them closer to Jesus? Or do they bring destruction, shame, and division?
Anything that kills, steals, or destroys comes from the enemy. But everything that gives life, heals, and restores comes from Jesus. God’s heart is never to tear down His church, it is always to build it up and bring His people back to Him.

None of us are without flaws or struggles. When we speak harshly against others, especially those in the body of Christ, who are we really shaming, the people, or the name of Jesus, whom we serve?

When we attack the church, we are wounding the very bride that Jesus purchased with His own blood. That is not how the love of Christ behaves. Love corrects, but it also covers. Love restores, it doesn’t destroy. There is always a better way to handle these matters, a way that reflects the heart of Jesus for His church.

Paul writes to the Galatians:

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:1–2

And to the Thessalonians, he said:

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:14–15

To the Philippian church, the most encouraging of all his letters. Paul wrote:

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” — Philippians 2:3–4

All these passages remind us that we are all a work in progress. We each have weaknesses and imperfections that God is still working on. The answer is not to tear one another down, but to forgive, restore, and bear each other’s burdens in love.

The Church Is A Source of Comfort and Strength.

Look at what Paul says about how the church became a source of encouragement, strength, and goodness in his life. In 2 Corinthians 7:5–7, Paul was deeply troubled:

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

God comforted Paul through the arrival and encouragement of Titus. This shows us that God often uses people, our brothers and sisters in the church to strengthen, uplift, and help us in times of need.

Paul also during his imprisonment wrote about Onesiphorus, a faithful believer who brought him comfort and courage when others had abandoned him:

“The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.” — 2 Timothy 1:16–17

Paul also expressed gratitude to the Philippian church for their faithful support:

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. – Philippians 4:10, 14–16

The church is the assembly of the people of God. Have you ever wondered why the Israelites were so excited, enthusiastic, and filled with joy when they gathered together in Jerusalem? It wasn’t only because of tradition or festival. It was because their gathering carried prophetic meaning. The Jewish people had been taught that one day they would all be gathered together in the Kingdom of God. Every time they went up to Jerusalem to worship, they were not only celebrating what God had done, they were practicing for what was to come. Their gatherings were a prophetic picture of the future, when all of God’s people would be united in His eternal presence.

If the church didn’t matter, then why would Jesus die for us? Why would He tell Peter,

In our time, we too gather in the church and there is deep purpose in that. We gather because it is in the church that we hear and are taught the Word of God. It is in the church that we receive encouragement, grow in our walk with Jesus, and learn to live out the commandments we’ve been given to love, forgive, and serve one another. It is in the church that we are cared for by faithful pastors who watch over our souls.

But more than that, every time we gather together, we are prophetically declaring our future. The church on earth is a reflection of the church in heaven, God’s people gathered before His throne, worshiping Him day and night. When we come together in worship, we are rehearsing for eternity.

“Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18

If the church were not essential, why would Jesus promise to build it and why would the apostles dedicate their entire lives to planting, teaching, and strengthening it? Why would they continually encourage believers to assemble together if gathering wasn’t vital to our faith?

So if you no longer feel glad about going to church, pray and ask God to touch your heart again. That feeling does not come from Him. God’s Word never tells us to turn away from His house. It calls us to come together in faith and obedience. Not attending the gathering of God’s people based on emotion or offense is not biblical, it goes against His commands and His design for His people.