What we should see when we assemble should be unlike anything we could see elsewhere. We should see the truth in our souls creating a visible energy — a beautiful energy that permeates through the sanctuary and continues outside the building, beckoning others to join us.

It says, “Come, come, come be with us. Come sing with us. Come worship with us. Come pray with us. Come learn with us and come love with us.” We assemble to create a sacred place where God’s presence is so strong that it cannot help but spill out onto the rest of the world.

The love in our hearts should radiate like waves of glitter suspended in the air. As we reach out our hands to each other, smile, interact and share joys and sorrows, then our hearts connect, and the glitter intertwines like shimmering fairies dancing in rhythm to the music of life.

The God in us not only shows, He shines brightly and loudly. His loving spirit creates a multi-dimensional beauty that inspires tears of awe.

Though His presence is bold, the God in the assembly gently whispers, “Remember who you are, whose you are and what you assembled to do.”

We assemble in our church houses often. Maybe God needs to remind us that it doesn’t matter whether we worship in an open field, a little wooden building or a million dollar building. He does not care, for God is too big, too powerful, too loving, too spontaneous and too carefree to be contained by any walls.

When we assemble in true worship we are as close to heaven as we can get on earth. When we assemble we all must leave our egos outside the door and the few egos that make it in should quickly dissipate.

There are no pretenses in God’s house. We see each other as we really are. It does not matter how much money we have, how economically secure we are, how academically accomplished we are, how technologically advanced or scientifically developed we are or what we do for a living.

What matters is what we do for the living and that we know how to love and recognize truth when it resonates within our soles. What matters are the lessons we have learned, are learning and will learn and if we are willing to share those lessons with those who have not learned them.

When we assemble in genuine worship, God’s presence is felt, God’s pardon is offered, God’s purposes are revealed and God’s power is displayed.

When we depart the place of worship where our souls have been occupied with God himself, our fervent desire is for Him to keep us firm in faith, watchful for temptation, humble in our successes and joyful in the face of afflictions for His namesake. Without Him we can do nothing, but we can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

Dr. Waiters can be reached at 704-636-3369.