For My Part, Even Though I Am Not Physically Present, I Am with You in Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 5:3

I was talking with a group of young teens about the importance of church attendance. A question was asked that I wasn’t expecting. It seems that one young man was very perceptive. “How do you count the ones who are in the pews, but not here in their heart?”

What if the Lord took Sunday worship attendance according to the heart of each one of us? Do you think his numbers would look anything like ours?

Paul wrote the church in Corinth, “For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.” 1 Corinthians 5:3.

It is easy to forget that God looks at the heart in all things that we do. Worship reflects our love for God, Paul wrote that we must, “Let love be genuine” Romans 12:9.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” In these words we find the difference between who is in worship, and who is not. It is not the number of people who are in the building, but those who are hungry enough to long for God, even if the only way to be in the worship service is in the Spirit.

“As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. Where can I find him to come and stand before him?” Psalm 42:1

“And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me”