What is it about America that people from other countries long for? It doesn’t take much thought. Freedom-free to be as God created us. It is God who gives freedom, and our country was founded by men who knew His Word, and they wanted this country to be a land where people would be free to worship, work, and live as they so desired. Just think, we can worship as we please, a freedom that so many people have died for, and yet, how many don’t even bother. There are just too many obstacles in the way.

I have occasionally pondered on the past, on a time that must have been quieter and much less hectic. I’m old enough to remember when stores were not open on Sundays, and it seemed like we managed quite well. I really don’t know what prompted retail businesses to start opening their doors on Sunday. Maybe it was when more and more women went into the working world, and I’m sure "money" played a part. I wonder what God thinks about the "day of rest" being just like all the other days.

If all businesses were closed on Sunday, and if there were no sporting events (from professional down to Little League) played on Sunday, would more people go to church? Has greed robbed God of His due worship and robbed us of our due rest?

"Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:11

There is a song entitled NOW IS THE TIME TO WORSHIP, and we sometimes sing this song in church. Here is a part of that song:

Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.
Come, just as you are to worship.
Come, just as you are before your God.words & music by Brian Doerksen © 1998 Vineyard Songs (UK/Erie)

When we start the service with that song, it just sets the tone. You can feel it in air-the people truly love God and want to worship Him, they need to worship Him.

If only people knew what they are missing-the uplift that an hour or an hour and a half, just once a week, does for the soul. America needs to get back to worshiping their God, to know Him, to express their love for Him.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship,
And it’s all about You,
All about You, Jesus.
I’m sorry, Lord for the thing I’ve made it,
When it’s all about You, all about You, Jesuscopyright © 1997 Kingsway's Thankyou Music

That chorus is from the song THE HEART OF WORSHIP. The song is a reflection of how far many who DO worship have strayed from worshiping God’s Son. Jesus is the "heart" of worship. When we delight in Him, the Father delights in us.

We worship on Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the grave, the grave that could not hold Him. The love that sent God’s Son to the cross to pay the price for our sins, is a love we really can’t comprehend. I love the chorus that goes:

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, would die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true;
It’s my joy to honor you...
In all I do I honor you.copyright © 1997 worshiptogether,com songs.

Music is such a wonderful part of worship. It brings joy to the Lord to sing His praises. Psalm 100:2 says, "Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." Whatever there is to buy in the stores, it can’t compare with the joy to be had from worshiping God, and all it cost is a Sunday morning.

I believe people don’t even know that they are cheating themselves out of the rest that this day was designed to give. Perhaps if every living soul kept this day for worship and rest, there would be a lot less illness plaguing the human body, and the soul would know more peace.

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6