How many go to God’s House, the church, and are there to be seen and are not truly there to commune with God and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. This morning I am in the book of Isaiah continuing my study of the word “prayer”. I find that just going to the House of the LORD, is not the point. There is much more that we are called for, beyond just showing up.
“6And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
and to be his servants,
everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,
and holds fast my covenant—
7these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.”
— Isaiah 56:6-7 (ESV)
I see here that it is not the arriving at the House of the LORD. It is the keeping “the Sabbath” and not doing anything against it that makes the difference. I see that those that do so, will be joyful and their prayers will be heard, and therefor, God’s House will be the house of prayer.
I find myself weekly in God’s House, and I will say that prayer is not something that is missing where we as a family meet with our brothers and sisters in Christ. In fact, at this time, we are in the midst of a study on prayer that has revealed so much. I want nothing more than to be known by God. I want to be in God’s House of prayer and offering to Him. I want my offerings to be accepted.
As I write this morning, I am brought back to the verses I have just read and see that for me to be in God’s House of prayer and for my offerings to be accepted, I simply have to devote myself to Him. I have to be present with Him and not look away. I must not be concerned with all that is around me and keep my eyes on God and my heart with Him. I have to “be there” in His presence. I have to remain vigilant in my pursuit of Him and do nothing to turn away from Him. I must hold on to the life that He provides for me and be thankful and accepting of all His provision and know that His blessings are just that, blessings and not guaranteed.
I am a child of God and as such, I have the joy of being able to meet with Him whenever I want. I have the opportunity to converse with Him and know that He is indeed there for me as I enter His House of prayer. When I meet with Him I devote myself to Him and keep those times focused on Him so as not to go against Him. I am to be there for the time with Him and nothing more.
What is your approach to your time in God’s House? Are you there to be seen? What if you just arrived and spent the time in conversation with God in His House of prayer and in devotion to keeping the time all about Him?
Trevor's Thoughts 