This past Sunday, my path intersected with a gracious man who has served the Lord in our church for many years. He’s been steadfast—even through much personal pain and many trials.
When asked “How are you doing today?” He promptly replied:
“I’d better be doing great! I’m at church! And this is my only sanctuary in life!”
With that, he moved on, not knowing how his words impacted me. “My only sanctuary in life.” Sanctuary means “A place of refuge or safety.” I was deeply challenged by his response. Here are a few thoughts that came to mind:
- How many people come to church every week looking for sanctuary! Do we provide it? Do we encourage, minister, and uplift them? Is the music, the message, and all of the ministry prepared in such a way that it becomes a sanctuary to all who come?
- Do I view church as my sanctuary? Do I value it, receive from it, and enter into God’s presence in that way? Or am I just going through the weekly motions and carrying out weekly duties?
- What a privilege we have to provide sanctuary to people who need it! Serving in the ministry sure is an awesome privilege and responsibility.
- Thank God that our church is a sanctuary. Because of a faithful pastor, a biblical vision, authoritative preaching, servant leadership, and a gracious church family—this man and many others like him can find sanctuary.
Ironically, that evening, in my Bible reading I came to Isaiah 40:1:
“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”
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