Church Withdrawal

"Those who are drawn to God
are also drawn toward each other."
~ Unknown

Church Withdrawal

I was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go into the house of the LORD."
~ Psalms 122:1 (NKJV)

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
~Hebrews 10:24-25

If all goes as planned, I'm having brunch with family this morning. Instead of being at my church, my soul is being nourished with a different kind of fellowship.

And if today is like any other Sunday on which I miss church, I'll be suffering church withdrawal, restless for my fix.

I understand that some people attend church because they believe doing so earns grace (not so), or that it's how to get to Heaven (it is not).

Perhaps people think going to church is a good thing for a Christian to do. That it is—but this is not why I go.

I go to church because I love the Lord, and I love celebrating the Lord with His people, and I love loving His people. I go there to be exhorted and to exhort others and to have a taste of Heaven.

My church also meets on Sunday evening (Praise the Lord!), and I plan to be there so symptoms of withdrawal don't become severe.

Thank You, Lord, for Yourself, with Whom we might ask for no one else. Thank You for Your people. Please knit our hearts together as one. Oh my God, please, I ask You, make our love for You stronger in our love for one another.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#churchunity
Photo of Pastor Dean Stewart courtesy of Joshua Nathaniel Hinds

Day Five: Precept

"The Twelve Days of Christ" series looks at Psalm 119's twelve Hebrew words for God’s Word, and a connection to the church for each one.

"The Bible is alive, it speaks to me;
it has feet, it runs after me;
it has hands, it lays hold of me."
~ Martin Luther

Day Five: Precept
piqqud: masc noun, "mandate, precept, instruction"
from paqad: verb, "to oversee, attend, search out; to commit to, that is, to cause people to attend to something placed under their care"

I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life...
I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts...
Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
~ Psalms 119:93,100,159 (NKJV)

"You revealed to Me paths of life;
You will fill Me with joy with Your face."
~ Acts 2:28 (LITV)

In the English, "precept" can mean a general rule regarding behavior and thought, or an actual order of law. That's not too far off the Hebrew, which is somewhere between an instruction or mandate and a stewardship or trust.

Forgive me for being overwhelmed with this trust. Who are we that the Lord should entrust to us revelation of Himself in what He prescribes? The passage from Acts (a quote of Psalm 16:11) puts the above verses from Psalm 119 in exactly that context. In understanding what God instructs, we understand God.

I define knowledge as acquisition of information, wisdom as seeing from God's perspective, and understanding as thinking as God does, with the mind of Christ. How dare we! Who are we to seek the face of God, let alone be allowed access into His thoughts?!

We, the church, have such privilege.

Such thoughts go beyond "do not commit adultery" to understanding that lust in our hearts robs marriage of sanctity; beyond "do not murder" to the understanding that hatred tears down another and therefore steals away life.

Here is life, joy, revival: to love what the Lord prescribes as revelation of the Almighty Himself.

Here is the very face of our beloved Lord and Savior.

"God's precepts strike those who love Him
as right and delightful."
The Complete Word Study Dictionary
Spiros Zodhiates, General Editor

#Bible
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Day One: Law

"The Twelve Days of Christ" series looks at Psalm 119's twelve Hebrew words for God’s Word, and a connection to the church for each one.





"The world has many religions;
it has but one Gospel."
~ George Owen


Day One: Law

torah: fem. noun, "instruction"
from yarah: verb, "to flow (as water), shoot, throw, point"

Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
~ Psalms 119:165 (NKJV)

[You are] ... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone ... in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
~ Ephesians 2:20-22 (NKJV)

The collection of the first five books of the Bible is called The Torah, or the Law of Moses. Though the Hebrew word torah is translated ‘law,’ it is much bigger. Consider that the United States Constitution is more than the laws which govern our land—it is a foundation of words upon which our government is established.

The Torah is a foundation to establish God as Creator, Judge of evil, Most High God above all false gods, Almighty God of Abraham, Deliverer of the Hebrews from Egypt. Having revealed a wondrous God and making clear His right to rule, the Torah then lays out His government.

Where would the church be without the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the many saints who have gone before? They have preserved the Gospel of Jesus Christ, often at the cost of their lives. Like the patriots, they gave us what we enjoy today at the cost of their blood.

In every era is a readiness to throw off what is seen as outdated. Indeed, religion which is devoid of love, of fresh anointing from the Lord's Spirit, and of active relationship with God was condemned by Jesus in His own era. But let us discern between empty tradition of man and the foundations of faith by which we are established as the church.

Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
~ Psalms 119:18 (NKJV)

A last thought. As the torah reveals God to man and establishes His rule, the church is the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ruler of our hearts by His Word and Spirit.

Sovereign Lord Jesus, Your dominion is over all. Bend our hearts to Your rule over all we are, do and have—over all the talent, time and treasure You’ve entrusted to us.

#churchunity #powerofwords
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from saintsandblesseds.wordpress.com