stange time to worship

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Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord....May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. (Psalm 134:1,3)... you may see this is a strange time to worship---"minister[ing] by night in the house of the Lord." indeed, worshipping at night, during the depth of our sorrows, is a difficult thing. yet therein lies the blessing, for it is the test of perfect faith. IF I DESIRE TO KNOW THE TRUE DEPTH OF MY FRIEND'S LOVE, I MUST SEE HOW HE RESPONDS DURING THE WINTER SEASONS OF MY LIFE. and it is the same with divine love. it is easy for me to worship in the summer sunshine, when the beautiful melodies of life seem to fill the air, and the lush fruit of life is still on the trees. but when the songbirds cease and the fruit falls from the trees, will my heart continue to sing? will i remain in God's house at night? will i love Him simply for who He is? am i willing to "keep watch for one hour" (Mark 14:37) with Him in His Gethsemane? will i help Him carry His cross up the road of suffering to Calvary? will i stand beside Him in His dying moments, with Mary, His mother, and John, the beloved disciple? would i be able, with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, to take the dead Christ from His cross? if i can do theses things, then my worship is complete and my blessing glorious. then i have indeed shown Him love during the time of His humiliation. my faith has seen HIm in His lowest state, and yet my heart has recognized His majesty through His humble disguise. and at last i truly know that i desire not the gift but the Giver. yes, when i can remain in His house through the darkness of night and worship Him, i have accepted Him for Himself alone..-George Matheson