Today’s Reading, Jeremiah 7-9
Focal Scripture: Jeremiah 7:11 “Has this house, which bears my name, become a den of robbers in your view? Yes, I too have seen it. This is the Lord’s declaration.”
Some places just mean more than others. I can attest to the reality of what a building or a place of worship means to me personally. There is one place that means much to me and many significant spiritual markers happened in that building. It is a place that helped shape me and form me. It is also a place that I have seen disrespected and not treated with the reverence it deserves. Not because of any memory I have but because of who is worshipped in that place of corporate gathering.
In today’s reading we see just how important the house of the Lord is to God. He tells Jeremiah that people come into his holy place unfit and defiled. They are unfit and defiled because of their attitudes and their actions. They know how to play the game of worship in front of God and others. They serve God out of duty instead of love for the king of the universe. The Lord is calling out pretenders who do not long to live for God.
This may seem harsh but what the Lord is declaring to Jeremiah also happens in churches today, especially in the US. The sanctuary has become a place to do business and socialize instead of a place to repent. The worship center has become a coffee bar instead of a place of worship. Church is no longer reverent of the King of the Universe. Instead it is a place that hides who we really are instead of exposing who we really are when we gather together.
I know today seems a little negative but we have to have this hard conversation personally and as believers. When we enter the house of the Lord why are we coming? Is it for ourselves or to worship a holy God. I know the building isn’t the point and believers can worship anywhere. However, we lose the point of the gathering when we lose focus of our Lord.
So examine yourself before you enter the house of the Lord. Make sure you have your sin put to death. Make sure you are coming for one reason only and that is to worship King Jesus. To test your motives ask yourself the following question. If it was just me and Jesus in the sanctuary would that be enough? The answer will reveal much about how and why you enter the house of the Lord.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Jeremiah 10-13
