admin
09-18-2007, 09:17 AM
-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
September 18, 2007
VERSE:
This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek me and
live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to
Beersheba."
-- Amos 5:4-5
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Amos+5:4-5
THOUGHT:
Do you "go to church"? I hope not! Now don't get me wrong; I'm
not advocating you skip worship and fellowship this Sunday! We're
told not to forsake gathering together as believers (Hebrews
10:25). But when we assemble as a body of believers, we're
gathering together for encouragement and meeting with God. We're
not GOING to church; we ARE the church! (The New Testament never
used the word church to refer to a building!) God warned his people
in Old Testament times that simply going to the places of worship
was worthless. Instead, they needed to seek him! I believe that is
exactly what God would have us do. And as we seek him together, we
get to share fellowship, comfort, and encouragement with each
other.
PRAYER:
Holy and loving Father, as I face the struggles of this week, it
is comforting to know that I am never away from your love. At the
same time, I love those special moments when I meet with other
Christians and your presence is powerful and real. I know you are
always with us when we gather together, but sometimes my heart or
my circumstance or the situations going on in our church family
derail my awareness of your presence. This week, dear Father, I
pray for our worship assembly to be vibrant and powerful. I pray
for your presence to be palpably near. I pray that you will be
honored by what my brothers and sisters and I do to encourage each
other and praise you. Please use this day to draw us near to you.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
September 18, 2007
VERSE:
This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek me and
live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to
Beersheba."
-- Amos 5:4-5
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Amos+5:4-5
THOUGHT:
Do you "go to church"? I hope not! Now don't get me wrong; I'm
not advocating you skip worship and fellowship this Sunday! We're
told not to forsake gathering together as believers (Hebrews
10:25). But when we assemble as a body of believers, we're
gathering together for encouragement and meeting with God. We're
not GOING to church; we ARE the church! (The New Testament never
used the word church to refer to a building!) God warned his people
in Old Testament times that simply going to the places of worship
was worthless. Instead, they needed to seek him! I believe that is
exactly what God would have us do. And as we seek him together, we
get to share fellowship, comfort, and encouragement with each
other.
PRAYER:
Holy and loving Father, as I face the struggles of this week, it
is comforting to know that I am never away from your love. At the
same time, I love those special moments when I meet with other
Christians and your presence is powerful and real. I know you are
always with us when we gather together, but sometimes my heart or
my circumstance or the situations going on in our church family
derail my awareness of your presence. This week, dear Father, I
pray for our worship assembly to be vibrant and powerful. I pray
for your presence to be palpably near. I pray that you will be
honored by what my brothers and sisters and I do to encourage each
other and praise you. Please use this day to draw us near to you.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.