Daily devotion – The Church and its focus
If I was to ask you what the essential focus, the core of the Church should be. What would you answer? From the birth of the Early Church in the Book of Acts on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit ‘fell’ in power upon the Church til today, the Church has changed dramatically.
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
I fear the Church in Australia has descended from the focus being on the awe, majesty and holiness of God and instead now shifted to its primary focus instead on humanity. The Church of today thinks its goal is to help people feel better about themselves. It focuses heavily on self-esteem, entertainment, and a myriad of other diversions to try to meet felt needs. So we have this constant shifting Church population travelling, moving, from place to place, to have this need meet and then the next.
The Church has been reduced from a living organism that emphasizes knowing and glorifying God to an organization that focuses on man’s needs.
Here is the point that is being missed – if you know and glorify God, the needs of your life are answered. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” – Proverbs 9:10
When you have a right relationship with God, everything else will fall into its proper place. Now I am not saying we should ignore peoples needs. Don’t get me wrong! We are to be concerned about people the same way God is! A balance needs to be established and that begins with a high view of God. We are to take God seriously.
As like the Church of Ephesus in the Book of Revelation and Martha in Luke’s Gospel, we are missing too many Marys and we are so busy in Church programs that we don’t take time to sit at Jesus feet in wonder. We don’t allow ourselves to be confronted by God’s holiness that would bring us to our knees in repentance and thanksgiving so that He can then use us for His glory.
When the children of Israel crossed the flooded Jordan River into the Promised Land it was time for a change of living and dedication to God once again.
God is calling us today to do the same – Jas 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Would you like to live your life with God near you? If you draw close to God, He will come close to you.
Let us take God seriously and exalt Him. Let us not be a man centred Church. We are to reach out to people in the love of Christ, but God is still to be the focus of our worship and our life.