1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2“Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:
“ ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever.8But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
9“ ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,a burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 7)
Thoughts: The illusion is that if we go to church we can do whatever we want and it will be okay. After all, we are saved by grace, not by works. Certainly, there are no perfect- non-sinners who believe. All of us sin in our practice and belief.
Yet, to abuse God's grace by purposefully ignoring God's commands so we can go our own way is even more wrong. We may not keep the Law perfectly, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to obey. In fact, if you love God, you want to please Him. Murder, adultery, stealing, worshiping other gods are all indicators that something is not right with our heart. Such things make worship an empty shell.
In our day, many just don't bother with worship at all- because they are aware of their imperfections. Worship is important. But worship, as this passage indicates, should be from the heart. Turning the holy church into a place of selfishness or even evil is an anathema to God. Being uncaring or apathetic is also an anathema to Him.
Just having a church (or Temple) in the neighborhood means little if worship there is not made from the heart.
Yet, to abuse God's grace by purposefully ignoring God's commands so we can go our own way is even more wrong. We may not keep the Law perfectly, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to obey. In fact, if you love God, you want to please Him. Murder, adultery, stealing, worshiping other gods are all indicators that something is not right with our heart. Such things make worship an empty shell.
In our day, many just don't bother with worship at all- because they are aware of their imperfections. Worship is important. But worship, as this passage indicates, should be from the heart. Turning the holy church into a place of selfishness or even evil is an anathema to God. Being uncaring or apathetic is also an anathema to Him.
Just having a church (or Temple) in the neighborhood means little if worship there is not made from the heart.
Prayer: Lord, help me to want to worship and please you. Help me to see these two things go together.
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