Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Devotional -Snapshot 48 - Church

"Churches rarely ever take people to another level of knowing God. They only imprison people in padded pews where praying for each other, bowling, and affirming the sermon is pretty much the work of the kingdom." Into the Depths of God Calvin Miller pg.226

Ezekiel 47:9 "And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live..."

The life giving water that comes from the temple in the end times...it is Jesus. The water heals, the fish thrive, the trees along the bank bear fruit and medicine. The trees never wither. The river gives life to every living thing that touches it. So my Lord offers soul healing and
everlasting life to those who sink their roots in the water.

Jesus tells the Samaritan woman in John 4:14 "...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." And in John 7 Jesus says if you believe in Him then our hearts will flow with rivers of living water. (referring to the Holy Spirit)

Rivers of living water, according to my Bible commentary, implies great abundance, benefiting not only believers, but also those around them. Which leads me to the above quote that talks about church imprisoning its people in padded pews to bowl and affirm the sermon. Don't let our church be like this, dear Lord. Fill us with Your Spirit so living water will spill out into our communities and our homes. Don't let us remain comfortable and apathetic.

This is a new day. We desire to serve You, to be involved in the battle outside our door. Time is short. We are older. There are too many worlds we have not conquered. To just sit in my home every day and dust, shop, wash windows, watch movies, play cards, mow lawns seems like we are out of the war for Christ and sitting in the bunker.

I want our church to know You and the power of Your resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in Your suffering. (Philippians 3:10)

Pray for your church.

No comments:

Post a Comment