BIBLE READING: Phil 2: 19 - 24 19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. (NLT)
BLOG: I am writing this blog on a Saturday in anticipation of tomorrow. Sunday.
How do you approach your Sunday's? Do you do so with anticipation or as a duty of your faith? Is it an opportunity to connect to Christ, or do you dread getting out of bed?
Galatians 6:7-9 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
As a Pastor, I have seen this truth play itself out every Sunday. Everyone got out of church what they expected from it. The preaching or the singing didn't matter. When we received the offering or how we greeted each other didn't matter. Our successes and our failures didn't matter. God honored our faith as He will yours.
So what do you do?
Come anticipating God to reveal Himself to you in an authentic way. Don't try to anticipate how, pay attention to what God is doing in your heart.
Come ready to give. Sunday is about giving God our time, our resources, our skills, and talents. Don't focus on what you are going to get out it, trust God to meet your needs. Give.
Lose the chip on your shoulder. You may have had a bad week. Someone may have offended you. Practice forgiveness because you cannot hear the still small voice of God over the anger in your head.
Don't worry about appearances. Bring your broken needs and lives. Don't worry about what other people think. Surround yourself with those who will love you.
Get ready to hear God. God often speaks to me during a service. Listen
PRAY: Dear Jesus, help me to get ready to go to church. AMEN
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