MARCH 18, 2010

GOD MUST

BE THERE

Scripture Reading--Ephesians 2:21-22

"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy

temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together

for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

The pastor of a big church in Washington D.C. was sitting in his office on a Sunday morning when a visitor called. "Will the president be in attendance this morning?" the visitor asked.

"I can't tell you if the president will be here," replied the pastor, "but God will be here, and that's a good enough reason to come." In a unique way, the pastor had exposed the motive of someone who wanted to come to church only to see the president.

When you go to church, who do you want to see? A friend or members of your family? Do you find yourself looking around, seeing who might be impressed by your presence? How sad that when we go to church, we're often more conscious of others than we are of God. Church should be a time for getting in touch and staying in touch with God.

Francois Fenelon was the court preacher for King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. One Sunday, when the king and his attendants arrived at the chapel for the regular service, no one was there except the preacher, King Louis demanded, "What does this mean?"

Fenelon replied, "I had published that you would not come to church today in order that Your Majesty might see who serves God in truth and who flatters the king."

Amazingly, some folks would see church as special only if a president or king were in attendance. Church is special, however, because God is there in the Person of the Holy Spirit. If God's presence isn't there, then services will be no different than those of many churches that do not even know God.

TALK ABOUT IT: As a family, discuss how services at your church would change if Jesus sat on the platform.

-Tom Palmer-