Going to Church
Despite God's presence being everywhere, its obvious that His greatest presence is at church, among the fellowship of the many brothers and sisters in Christ in His Kingdom. Today I planned to join Him in His presence at church. Being a Friday night, I had many options to entertain myself; usually church would not be considered "entertainment." But the Lord is good to me. Church is a way to get closer to God, to recieve spirital assurance that Jesus is still watching over us. So natrually, the ultimate spiritual benefit would result from going to church.
But I didn't. I went to a movie instead. Why?
I invited a girl from my high school to go with me but she recanted this afteroon. Discouraged as I was, I still held in my affirmation that perhaps, yes, just perhaps she would come the next week. Or the next week after that. Or the next... Needless to say, trusting in a human is not reliable. I love this girl, in many different facets. I am attracted to her, I have an emotional attachment to her, I have her best intrests at heart when I am around her. I love her like a best friend, a brother, a boyfriend, a colleauge, a peer, a fellow human being, and probably most importatly, as a Christian. She is my priority when I have the option between mine and hers. So, in the spirit of that love, I decided to invite her to church and expose her to Jesus. She was really enthusiastic too! I was encouraged because I was going to make a difference in someone's life. Surely she would be saved, or, at the least, be introduced to a community that she has never been a part of and have a spiritual revival that would encourage her to seek the word. In my excitement I looked forward to Friday's Youth service waiting to bring this girl to Christ.
But it didn't happpen. She had to do other things, which is understandable. But to me, it was a discouragement. I was not disapointed in her, but more in myself. I had trumped up this event to the point of artificial greatness. Through my own selfless intentions, ironically, I was selfish. So I forgoed church and went to a movie instead. But what about my own spiritual integrety? Shouldn't I encourage that? There again, another dissapointment. In my "despair" by not taking that girl to church, I didn't go myself citing the fact that I didn't really want to go anyway. I didn't want to go to church because of me, but rather for her.
Then I realized, God put me in this situation for a reason. He had used this girl as a burden on my soul. God used my love for her in his purpose to bring her to Christ. But I was selfish. I did not put her priorities first when I got so excited about going, over nothing but self-indulgence. The burden reminded me that she was the reason for going to church. God put that burden there to remind me that what I wanted was not what He wanted; it was not about me, it was about her, and bringing her to the Lord.
But I didn't. I went to a movie instead. Why?
I invited a girl from my high school to go with me but she recanted this afteroon. Discouraged as I was, I still held in my affirmation that perhaps, yes, just perhaps she would come the next week. Or the next week after that. Or the next... Needless to say, trusting in a human is not reliable. I love this girl, in many different facets. I am attracted to her, I have an emotional attachment to her, I have her best intrests at heart when I am around her. I love her like a best friend, a brother, a boyfriend, a colleauge, a peer, a fellow human being, and probably most importatly, as a Christian. She is my priority when I have the option between mine and hers. So, in the spirit of that love, I decided to invite her to church and expose her to Jesus. She was really enthusiastic too! I was encouraged because I was going to make a difference in someone's life. Surely she would be saved, or, at the least, be introduced to a community that she has never been a part of and have a spiritual revival that would encourage her to seek the word. In my excitement I looked forward to Friday's Youth service waiting to bring this girl to Christ.
But it didn't happpen. She had to do other things, which is understandable. But to me, it was a discouragement. I was not disapointed in her, but more in myself. I had trumped up this event to the point of artificial greatness. Through my own selfless intentions, ironically, I was selfish. So I forgoed church and went to a movie instead. But what about my own spiritual integrety? Shouldn't I encourage that? There again, another dissapointment. In my "despair" by not taking that girl to church, I didn't go myself citing the fact that I didn't really want to go anyway. I didn't want to go to church because of me, but rather for her.
Then I realized, God put me in this situation for a reason. He had used this girl as a burden on my soul. God used my love for her in his purpose to bring her to Christ. But I was selfish. I did not put her priorities first when I got so excited about going, over nothing but self-indulgence. The burden reminded me that she was the reason for going to church. God put that burden there to remind me that what I wanted was not what He wanted; it was not about me, it was about her, and bringing her to the Lord.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
-- Matthew 11:28-30
posted by Tokkemon at
2:35 AM
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