Sometimes it takes huge inconveniences to get mankind to slow down and consider that the world doesn’t revolve around our every move. The ash from that volcano last week made that perfectly clear by stopping mankind in his tracks—world leaders, businesses, and everyone else came screeching to a halt.
And guess what? A slow down will occur again, by another natural or man-made disaster, or the granddaddy of them all; the day of Judgment! (Acts 17:31). On that great day, all men will stop their busy lives to stand before Jesus Christ and be judged for the deeds done in life (Romans 14:9-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46). So that volcano taught us much, and we need to reflect on the fact that nothing keeps going uninterrupted (not even those batteries on television). We need to think about these things (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10; James 4:13-15; Luke 12:16-20). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. “Say a prayer for me!” Those are the words of some, as they observe others going to church. But those going to church should say, “How about you coming with me, and saying the prayer yourself?” Allow me to say that I agree with that statement.
Why ask someone else to pray for you when you can pray yourself? People should pray and go to church; so why shun the duty that one is supposed to do? (Luke 18:1; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4). But here is a note of caution; God doesn’t listen to those who enjoy sin (John 9:31; Psalm 66:18). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Having a good time being critical of someone who has sinned? Read John 8:1-11.
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” 11 She said, “No man, Lord.” And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. I’m not interested in excusing hypocrites because God condemns such deception (James 3:17; Matthew 6:5,16; Matthew 23:1-39; 1 Peter 2:1). However, when I hear someone refusing to visit church because of the hypocrites they claim are in it, I challenge them to tell someone in that church about the sin (Numbers 32:23).
Inconsistency can be found in the lives of these accusers because they will not refuse a blood transfusion if hypocrites are working at the hospital. If drowning in the sea, they will not refuse a life raft because there are hypocrites on board. Neither, will they refuse to work at a job, live in a neighborhood or shop at the mall with hypocrites. Seems like people just want a excuse not to go to church. God looks at the heart of man and not the outside (1 Samuel 16:7). However, that doesn’t give man the right to attend church looking like he is ready to feed the hogs or mow grass. When going on a job interview, date, party, wedding, funeral, etc, people dress up. Now dressing up doesn’t have to be a tux or evening dress but it does involve preparing. The same attitude should exist toward church services. It is a place of reverence, so it is special and people should prepare themselves for such an occasion (Matt. 18:20; Exodus 19:10-15). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services |