10/24/2007
Ezekiel 33:30 - 33 (HCSB)
30“Now, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One person speaks to another, each saying to his brother: Come and hear what the message is that comes from the LORD! 31So My people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue unjust gain. 32Yes, to them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them. 33Yet when it comes —and it will definitely come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Ezekiel had preached concerning the fall of Jerusalem, which came to pass. He also prophesied against the nations around Israel. The Israelites in exile no doubt enjoyed hearing God’s oracles against Israel’s foes. But the fact of the matter is, they came to listen to Ezekiel for the wrong reason. It was an event-entertainment, if you will. They did not regard Ezekiel as a prophet. And their hearts were unchanged and they gained nothing.
Do we do the same thing? Do we go to church because it is just the thing one should do? Or do we go to church because we like the music? Do we go to church because we like the pastor, or because our friends are there? Have we forgotten that the church is where we go to worship God corporately?
There has been some controversy in recent decades over how a church service should be conducted; whether the music should be traditional or contemporary. Some argue over the type of seats that are used or whether they should use projection screens.
The fact of the matter is, while we may enjoy the music, pastor or friends, we are at church to receive from God what He has to say. Nothing else matters when you realize that you are approaching God. Of course, we have the Holy Spirit with us all the time, but our time of corporate worship should be regarded as something more than an obligation, or entertainment.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2007 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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