AMOS 5:21
So many people are turning away from the societal established church of todays society. We go to a building we call church. We sing a few songs. We listen to a message. We see or be seen by other people. We leave feeling same way we felt before we went. Sometimes worse if we are being honest. This has happened in all time periods throughout the Bible. Let’s see how God feels about this form of worship by reading the scripture of the title.^
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” -ESV
Take a minute to process this scripture. Doesn’t “solemn assemblies” feel familiar. For me it was one of those things that hit me like a ton of bricks. Have you ever felt as though you are just going through the motions? You work so hard all week, get so discouraged in the world, walk out of God’s grace, and go to a building on Sunday morning and feel a small bit of relief before you wake up and do it all over again Monday morning? What if I told you that God created YOU for a much more fulfilling purpose. He wants to fill you with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Church is not that building you go to on Sunday morning. The Church is the people that truly believe in Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit. That building is designated as God’s House and a place of worship. The reason we go to God’s House is to worship God in fellowship with other members of the Body of Christ. True worship brings us into an encounter with our Father and should leave you feeling as though you need nothing else. True worship is sustainable. It allows Him to pour His love and grace into your heart.
Now if you are reading this and you have never chosen to believe in Jesus Christ I just want you to know that you are loved, and that in any real House of God you are more than welcome to come in seek refuge from the burdens of the world. Come as you are before the Father and choose to believe in Jesus and ask Him to come into your life/heart and His love will change your life forever.... Literally.
