Topic: God sees your heart
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 4-6; 2 Corinthians 10
Memory verse: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.” Ecclesiastes 5:1 (KJV)
The house of God is a place where many gather to worship and praise Him. He sees the heart of each and every one, both those in the service and those who are not. Both those who are there but are absent minded and those who are not there but desire in their hearts to be there. God sees our hearts and works with us to give us according to the fruit of our heart.
There was a day I was stuck in traffic while heading back from work to attend a midweek service some years ago. I just became a Christian and have this love for midweek services till this day. I love the way the man of God expounded the scriptures. In fact, midweek services teach us the ways of God while we see the acts of God on Sunday. From the time it clocked 6pm which was the time for the commencement of the service, I joined in the prayers. Then we had no online platform to hook up with the service those years but my heart was there. I prayed along in the opening prayer, sang the songs and imagined what the testimonies wold be like with many jumping up in shouts of “Praise God!” All these were being done in my mind and heart.
When it came to the word session, somehow I found myself reading a piece by Andrew Wommack, whom I had come to like after I became a Christian, and time flew. By the time I got to the church, the man of God was rounding up and summarizing the message of the day. Lo and behold, the topic happened to be the same I was reading by Andrew Wommack! Moreso, all the questions that came up in my mind while reading were being answered in the summary by the man of God that day! I got to church about 15 minutes to closing time but was greatly blessed that day. God saw my heart and how desperate I was to be in that service. God brought the service to me in traffic that day.
Many come to the church with different motives; some come to do businesses other than that of God, while others come to offer services absent-mindedly as the service is now more of a routine to them. It is done with no heart for God but to satisfy the head of some group or some leader in the church. God takes note of all we do from the intents of our heart and warns us to : “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.” Ecclesiastes 5:1 (KJV) A sacrifice of fools is one done with no reverence attached to it. Such services never go up to God.
Examine your ways and be determined to put God first in your mind and heart even before you step into the house of God. Without God involved in your services it is a waste of time.
Action point: There are many routines we have stuck with over the years that are affecting our spiritual growth in the house of God. Examine all you do before you step into the house of God and after and amend your ways.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu