…I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15

This verse instructs and encourages me in the following ways:

It matters how we “conduct ourselves in the house of God.” That’s right, there is conduct that is appropriate and acceptable and there is conduct which is not. When we gather with God’s people for public worship we are not free to come any old way we choose. This brief meditation disallows an in-depth explanation of everything that is acceptable and everything that is not. Suffice it to say, we are all responsible to seek the Lord, not by searching our hearts (they are so often misleading, if not downright wrong), but by searching the Word of God. Look at what God’s Word has to say about reverent fear, humble prayer, exuberant singing, esteeming others above ourselves, diligently searching the scriptures (attentiveness during preaching), and discerning the body of Christ while receiving the Lord’s Supper. Let us conduct ourselves as those whose desire is not to please ourselves, but God and His people.

The house of God is the Church, and the Church is not the building but the people. Though God is always everywhere at all times, He chooses to manifest His presence in His Church—particularly as we are gathered for public worship. Let us esteem and love God’s preferred dwelling place as much as He does. He never misses. Dare we adopt casual attitudes about making the most of every effort to be in the house of God?

While no church is perfect, the Church of God that faithfully preaches the Word of God is “the pillar and ground of the truth.” In a world of falsehood, the Church is to be a haven where we may find rest in God’s truth.