In One Door and Out the Other!

Wednesday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Ezekiel 46
NT: Hebrews 6
W&W: Psalm 121

Today’s Reflection:

In today’s Old Testament Reading, God said – through the prophet Ezekiel – “When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate” (Ezekiel 46.9).

I wonder why God said that. Wouldn’t it just be easier to come and go by the same door? After all, the people undoubtedly parked their chariots as close to the door as possible so that they could hurry off after worship!

But God said something different. Take time to enter into God’s presences and stay there a while. You don’t need to do everything with an eye on the clock. By coming in one gate and going out the other, the people had to pass completely through the temple and be exposed to the full measure of God’s presence among them. And, part of that full measure of God’s presence was his presence in the lives and hearts of fellow worshipers.

When we worship, wouldn’t it be good to do that at least metaphorically? Wouldn’t it be right to avoid just coming in and sitting down and getting up to leave? Wouldn’t we be better off if we took time to “pass through” God’s family and thereby enjoy his presence? We miss much of God when we miss interacting with the people of God. So I challenge you: get to know some new people. Don’t get stuck in a rut or get caught in a hurry. The rewards of new friendships are amazing!

At Bethel Church of the Nazarene, we recently completed an assessment to determine the level of engagement in our church. One of the questions asked of our church-attenders was this: “Do you have a best friend at church?” Experience teaches us that we all need friendships in order to stay connected to our churches and engaged in the mission of our churches. God purposely designed the Christian journey so that we wouldn’t have walk it alone.

So: Come on in! Get to know me, and let me get to know you!

This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Psalm 121: 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.