August 12

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. (Genesis 28:16-17)

When people come into the house of God they put on a sober appearance. They act as if there was something very strange about the house of God.

I would not say a word to detract from the holiness of the house of God. But let us bear in mind that every place ought to be holy to a child of God; that in every place we ought to be true to God.

We ought to be as true to Him in our place of business as we are in the Church. When Jacob said, “This is the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven,” he was under the canopy of high heaven. That was where God met him; and God will meet us in the street as well as in the place of worship. He will meet us at home. He is also with us in our closets.

Any place where God is, is holy, and this putting on another air and a sanctimonious look when we come into the house of God, and laying it aside when we go out, thinking that this is going to be acceptable to God, is all wrong. Every place ought to be holy to a true child of God.