TOPIC: PRIORITISE LISTENING TO THE WORD DURING SERVICE
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)
Many come to the house of God 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 fool is one done with no reverence attached to it. Such services never go up to God. We are, thus, adviced to be more ready to hear above all other things.
The house of God is a place where we 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 heart to be there. God sees our hearts and works with us to give us according to the desires of our heart. For those who come to listen to His words and obey Him, He meets them at the same position. So many come to the house of God hoping for answers to the questions of life troubling them that no one else knows about. And God, speaking through the Pastors, by the Spirit touch on the issues affecting people. But only those who are attentive and ready get their word.
There was a day I was stuck in traffic while heading back from work to attend a midweek service some years ago. 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. While in the bus, noting the service time, 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 online by a man of God, whom I had come to like a lot after I became a Christian, and time flew. By the time I got to the church, our Pastor was rounding up and summarizing the message of the day. Lo and behold, the topic happened to be almost the same I had read online before getting to church! Moreso, all the questions that came up in my mind while reading were being answered in the summary by my Pastor that day! I got to church about 15 minutes to close of service but was greatly blessed that day. God saw my heart and how desperate I was to be in that service such that He brought the service to me in traffic that day! And the word I got that day blessed me greatly for many years.
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. Above all, prepare for services with a heart that is set to listen and obey the word of God.
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