Honoring the One Who Died
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
Psalm 29:2
One of the wonders of the world is the Taj Mahal, located in the Indian city of Agra. Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, built this spectacular structure in 1629 upon the death of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who perished during childbirth.
Heartbroken, the emperor ordered this magnificent memorial to be built to house the tomb of his loved one. Before he started building, the shah placed his wife’s casket in the middle of the construction site as a daily reminder of the reason behind it all.
As he built, the shah became increasingly enamored with his project. He worked on it with great passion, making it bigger and better…greater and grander…than anything ever imagined.
But as the weeks turned to months and as the months turned to years, his grief over his wife subsided, while his passion for the building grew. The construction project consumed him.
One day, while walking from one side of the worksite to the other, his leg bumped against a wooden box. Annoyed, he brushed the dust off of his leg and ordered a worker to throw the box out. He didn’t know that he had ordered the disposal of his beloved wife’s coffin, which, now forgotten, was hidden beneath layers of dust.
The tragic result is that, though the building was erected, the person it was meant to commemorate was lost in the process. Hard to believe.
It Happens Every Sunday
Yet have you ever considered that this still happens?
Indeed, it happens every Sunday in buildings that were erected as a focus point to honor one who had died.
The next time you enter an assembly of worship, position yourself where you can see the people. You can tell the ones who understand why they came to the building – the reason behind their attendance.
They’re attentive. They’re responsive. They take seriously the words of Psalm 29:2 – “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name…”
That word, “ascribe”, is quite descriptive. It means “to offer deserved honor; to give credit.” It’s an active verb, not a passive verb. As such it calls for a response.
The psalmist then continues: “…worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” It’s a reminder to take seriously the holy act of worship.
As sad as the story of the Taj Mahal is, even more sad is the story of those who forget why they go to a beautiful building on Sundays. And, in so doing, they fail to properly honor the One who died…for them.
PRAYER
Lord, I have to confess that all too often my attendance at church becomes a matter of going through the motions. My mind wanders. My body is disengaged. Today I recommit myself to offering You deserved honor and giving you credit.
Lord, I confess that too often my attendance at church becomes a matter of going through the motions. My mind wanders. My body is disengaged. Today I recommit myself to offering You the honor You deserve.
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