AMY TURNER
When people gather to worship, God must remain at the centre. Psalm 132:9 offers a clear reminder of this, saying, “May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy.” The verse is part of a prayer sung by those approaching the temple, asking that leaders live rightly and that worshippers express true joy.
The character of religious leaders has a powerful effect on how worship is experienced. When leaders act with integrity, it strengthens the faith of those who gather. But when leaders act wrongly, it distorts how people see God. No leader is perfect, yet ongoing disobedience or a divide between how they live privately and what they show publicly harms the message of God’s goodness.
The attitude of a congregation matters as well. Complaints, conflicts, and division within a church can cloud people’s understanding of God. It’s important to pray both for those who lead and those who follow, asking that righteousness and joy fill the community. In this way, the church can better reflect God’s glory to the world.
Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 4:16
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