There is a comfort to be found in the habits of worship. I anticipate getting up on Sunday and going off to church, singing familiar songs, praying with people I love, and opening the Scripture. It is a lifetime habit, and a good one. There is a danger in it, though. The ritual can replace the reality of relationship, if I do not continue to renew my First Love of the Lord Jesus Christ! The habits of religion can cover up the barrenness of one’s relationship with the Spirit.
In the opening chapters of 1st Samuel, we read about a time in Israel’s history when corruption had overtaken the priesthood. The leading priests were greedy and immoral, oppressing the people, and exploiting the power of their holy office. The Bible says, "In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions." (1 Samuel 3:1, NIV) The rituals were ongoing, but the sinfulness had made them spiritually deaf. In the next chapter, we are told that a war with the Philistines broke out. In the initial battle, 4,000 soldiers of Israel died. The leaders of the nation were perplexed. “Why did the Lord bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines?” (1 Samuel 4:3, NIV) Then, they made a fateful decision!
They sent for the Ark of the Covenant, the symbolic center of God’s dwelling among them, and brought it down to lead them into battle! “Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.” (1 Samuel 4:3, NIV) What a misplaced trust! Unable to hear the voice of the Lord, they choose to trust in the ritual symbol and the end of the story is tragic. They suffered a terrible defeat, the Ark was captured by the Philistines, and despair gripped the nation as people concluded that ‘the glory of the Lord has departed!’
Disciple, don’t misplace your focus on ritual! Habits of Bible reading, saying prayers, church attendance, taking Communion… whatever you spiritual practices … are good. Those disciplines can and should provide channels through which the living water of the Spirit flows into our minds and souls. But, doing the rituals is not what empowers us to overcome the Tempter, to stand firm in faith, or to become the holy people that the Lord desires us to be. We must cultivate intimacy with God, responding to deal with sin, waiting before Him patiently, offering soul-deep worship both privately and with the congregation. Then, we will not suffer the curse of spiritual deafness. Hearing from God makes the difference between Christianity as a religion of disciplined morality and Christianity as an experience of joyful empowerment that satisfies the deepest needs of our hearts and minds!
We are foolish if we think we can enter into the battle with the World, the Flesh, and the Devil and overcome because we have certificate of perfect attendance at church, or because we have conscientiously paid our tithes, or because we completed a ‘through the Bible’ reading program last year. Yes, we ought to do those kinds of things, but not because we trust in them to deliver us, but because they are means of worshipping and loving our Living Lord! Let us never allow Jesus’ words to the church in Ephesus be descriptive of us. "I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out. But you walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway?" (Revelation 2:3-4, The Message)
Here’s His invitation. Take it to heart and live with the joy and power that comes from a real relationship.
"You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne." (Revelation 3:16-21, NIV)
_________________
Your steadfast love
Extends to the heavens.
Your faithfulness
Reaches to the clouds.
Your righteousness
Is like majestic mountains,
And Your wisdom
Like the depths of the sea.
And You come to me.
Filling my heart
Is Your loving kindness.
I find my peace in
The shadow of Your wings.
I eat my fill from
The abundance of Your household,
And I drink from
The streams of rejoicing.
You are my King.
Your Steadfast Love
Sandquist, Ted
© 1974 Lion Of Judah Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
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