"I am the Lord your God. I created you and placed you on earth. Your responsibility while on earth is to worship me, because I am your Creator. You will, however, receive nothing from me - no material or other blessings. The life that I gave you through my Son should be sufficient for you. Be sure to worship me and magnify my name as long as you live." - God
Let us assume that this is God's message and instruction to you. Assume you've just heard these words and heard them clearly.
Take a little time to think about this and then ask yourself the question, "Would I still attend church if this were the case?" "Would I still seek this kind of God?"
Every churchgoer should find time for some serious self-introspection; time to take stock in the most honest of ways, searching even to the depth of one's heart.
I believe that worshipping God is serious business. I also believe that it is very easy for one to mistake whatever else they may be doing for worshipping.
It is important for every churchgoer to be completely sure of their ground when it comes to worshipping Him, attending church and participating in any other activity related or purportedly related to Him. One needs to be able to tell where they stand exactly.
The mistake that some people make is to mistake churchgoing for worship. Some assert, "I am a Christian." If you query the basis for such an assertion, they reply, "Because I attend church."
The truth, however, is that churchgoers are a group of people comprised of Christians and non-Christians.
Anybody can attend church. Some do so in the same way they attend a burial society meeting. In addition, some non-Christians may be so active in church to the extent of appearing like the cream of the saved!
Instead of seeking God, some churchgoers attend church to seek associated benefits; they attend church for things. To them, God is somebody who gives out things; He is not the Lord of their souls.
Some attend church for the sake of company; they feel lonely at home.
There are also some who think that attending church means keeping abreast of modern trends; they also believe that it comes with a level of class and prestige.
Let us assume that there are no miracles, no financial blessings, and no healing to be received in church services. How many would still attend church?
Don't you know that the devil has taken advantage of the people's love for such things to give them imitations from the depth of darkness? Don't you know that some people perform miracles of all sorts through magic, just to attract crowds, because they know that the crowds seek such things?
"Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, you are looking for me ... because you ate the loaves and had your fill" - John 6:26 (NIV).
Jesus rebuked the crowd that had gathered before Him. In His rebuke, Jesus said something like, "I know you. I know your hearts. You look like you are seeking me yet in reality you are looking for food to fill your stomachs." This is still happening. Many are looking just for the material comforts of life. How cheap!
Jesus rebuked the crowd that had gathered before Him. In His rebuke, Jesus said something like, "I know you. I know your hearts. You look like you are seeking me yet in reality you are looking for food to fill your stomachs." This is still happening. Many are looking just for the material comforts of life. How cheap!
Jesus went on to teach them, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life" - John 6:27 (NIV).
After saying this, people began to wonder what kind of work they needed to do. "Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?" - John 6:28 (NIV). Good question, but only helpful to the sincere in heart.
Some people are active in the work of the church or ministry. They run around to ensure everything is in order for the church service or for any other church program. That's good, commendable; but even a non-Christian can also do the same! These activities should therefore be undertaken only within the context of the primary work, if God is to approve of them.
Listen to Jesus' response: "Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent" - John 6:29 (NIV).
I love this. This is the real work, without which any other church-related activities lose meaning before God.
Those who have not believed remain condemned. One can still be condemned even as they run around with church business, just because they focused completely on such activities while forgetting the real work, i.e., believing in the one that God has sent - Jesus Christ!
Those who have not believed remain condemned. One can still be condemned even as they run around with church business, just because they focused completely on such activities while forgetting the real work, i.e., believing in the one that God has sent - Jesus Christ!
The question is: have you believed in the one that God sent? Another is: what exactly do you seek to achieve by attending church; what are you looking for?
If you are looking for God, you will remain rooted even if there are no material or other blessings to be received. If you are looking for things, you will leave in a huff the moment you realize that there are no such things.
God should be worshipped because He is God.
We will receive material things only as a result of our relationship with Him. However, the person who is really going somewhere with God is one whose heart and eyes are on Him, not on things.
PRAYER
Prayer point for today: That I may worship God for His sake.
Turn Your right ear towards me, Heavenly Father, as I lift my voice to You in this hour.
Your love towards me is limitless, evidenced by how, by Your strong hand, you pulled me from darkness into Your marvelous light.
Nothing can be and should be more important to me in this life than that, for salvation means life, abundant life, and life eternal.
You are the God who provides. You provide for me; You provide for my family, and for this I am truly grateful. However, even if I were to get nothing else from You besides the salvation of my soul, my heart would still rejoice and rejoice as though I lacked nothing.
Father, teach me how to order my priorities, my focus, and my pursuits, to love you with all my heart and with all my strength, for the life that I live is but only a shadow of the real life; I live in a tent, because I am a one on a journey.
Holy Father, teach all who gather in the place of worship. Circumcise their hearts, that they may expend their energy on pursuits that are appropriate in Your site, not on some expeditions unrelated to eternal life.
I give glory to You my God, because I stand in this awesome grace as a result of the deep love You have always felt for me.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord, I pray.
Amen.
