On the drive to church this past Sunday morning, the story of Jesus entering the temple and finding people doing business came to mind. It was soon after Jesus entered Jerusalem and the week prior to his crucifixion. You can find the story in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 2. Below is the excerpt from John 2.
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”
This story seems so easy to understand, but I highly doubt that you could walk up to a local church and find farmers lined up outside the front doors trying to sell their sheep or cattle. (Of course that's partly due to the fact that we don't need an animal to sacrifice at the alter anymore because of the ultimate sacrifice that God made by sending his son, Jesus, to die for us!)
Every story has an application, though. How in the world could this relate to me? I don't plan on selling any sheep anytime soon. Not that I even have any to sell.
But...there is (unfortunately) PLENTY of other "business" that I take care of at church. I deliver things to friends, I get things from friends, I track down certain people at church so we can talk over certain upcoming events, etc. I can think of TONS of business that goes on every Sunday!
Why do I choose to do all of this on Sunday mornings/Wednesday nights!?!
Part of it is because it's easy. Everyone is in one place. You can kill seven birds with one stone! You can get results! My multi-tasking personality LOVES that you can accomplish so much in such a small amount of time!
Yet, that doesn't change the fact that I am GUILTY! My mind and my heart has not been focused on what it needs to be.
It's hard because we do live about 30 minutes from the church and all of our friends. Our finances are tight (whose aren't!), so we have tried to limit the amount of trips we make to the next town to keep our gas cost down. A good intent but I think it has also made us try to squeeze as much as possible into our Sunday morning/Wednesday evening trips.
I've noticed the last few weeks that when I have all this business to take care of at church, my mind is not focused on what it is meant to be. I still listen, and I participate, but I tend to be distracted by the need to take care of business!
Now don't get me wrong.....I still plan on talking to people when I go to church! ;)
I believe God started preparing my heart for this realization a few months ago. (Isn't he SO generous to ease us into seeing what He sees sometimes!)
Based on the saying, "What you put out is what you get back", our Pastor, in his weekly email, challenged us to consider how we were preparing our hearts to receive the message each time we attended. A few weeks later in our Connection Group (AKA Sunday School) we discussed church/God and the level of priority it took in our lives/schedules. Tim and I have definitely made the outward commitment to place church as a priority in our lives. There is never a question as to if we should attend church on Sunday or to stay home. The answer is always to go. Along with other services. Yet, I know we need to work on preparing our hearts throughout the week to receive the message that God wants us to hear.
It has been on my heart for the last few months and I have been seeking Him and asking him to show me how I can better prepare my heart for Sunday mornings. I think he gave me the answer a few days ago. :)
So...my plan for now is to really limit how much business I plan for Sunday mornings/Wednesday nights, and try to schedule other times to accomplish what needs to be done. That might mean an extra trip, and extra gas, but I believe where the Lord leads he provides. It will probably mean more phone calls/emails and that also will require good time management.
Some might think this is crazy, or even extreme; yet the Holy Spirit speaks to us all in different ways. I remember in Middle School the gentle urging to not spit out my gum on the sidewalk/grass anymore, but to always put it in the trash. Crazy! you say. I know. Yet, He also whispered the same request to a dear mentor. ;)
I have to ask....How much business do you do at church? Is it distracting you from what God wants you to hear? In what ways do you prepare your heart to receive the message when you attend?
Every story has an application, though. How in the world could this relate to me? I don't plan on selling any sheep anytime soon. Not that I even have any to sell.
But...there is (unfortunately) PLENTY of other "business" that I take care of at church. I deliver things to friends, I get things from friends, I track down certain people at church so we can talk over certain upcoming events, etc. I can think of TONS of business that goes on every Sunday!
Why do I choose to do all of this on Sunday mornings/Wednesday nights!?!
Part of it is because it's easy. Everyone is in one place. You can kill seven birds with one stone! You can get results! My multi-tasking personality LOVES that you can accomplish so much in such a small amount of time!
Yet, that doesn't change the fact that I am GUILTY! My mind and my heart has not been focused on what it needs to be.
It's hard because we do live about 30 minutes from the church and all of our friends. Our finances are tight (whose aren't!), so we have tried to limit the amount of trips we make to the next town to keep our gas cost down. A good intent but I think it has also made us try to squeeze as much as possible into our Sunday morning/Wednesday evening trips.
I've noticed the last few weeks that when I have all this business to take care of at church, my mind is not focused on what it is meant to be. I still listen, and I participate, but I tend to be distracted by the need to take care of business!
Now don't get me wrong.....I still plan on talking to people when I go to church! ;)
I believe God started preparing my heart for this realization a few months ago. (Isn't he SO generous to ease us into seeing what He sees sometimes!)
Based on the saying, "What you put out is what you get back", our Pastor, in his weekly email, challenged us to consider how we were preparing our hearts to receive the message each time we attended. A few weeks later in our Connection Group (AKA Sunday School) we discussed church/God and the level of priority it took in our lives/schedules. Tim and I have definitely made the outward commitment to place church as a priority in our lives. There is never a question as to if we should attend church on Sunday or to stay home. The answer is always to go. Along with other services. Yet, I know we need to work on preparing our hearts throughout the week to receive the message that God wants us to hear.
It has been on my heart for the last few months and I have been seeking Him and asking him to show me how I can better prepare my heart for Sunday mornings. I think he gave me the answer a few days ago. :)
So...my plan for now is to really limit how much business I plan for Sunday mornings/Wednesday nights, and try to schedule other times to accomplish what needs to be done. That might mean an extra trip, and extra gas, but I believe where the Lord leads he provides. It will probably mean more phone calls/emails and that also will require good time management.
Some might think this is crazy, or even extreme; yet the Holy Spirit speaks to us all in different ways. I remember in Middle School the gentle urging to not spit out my gum on the sidewalk/grass anymore, but to always put it in the trash. Crazy! you say. I know. Yet, He also whispered the same request to a dear mentor. ;)
I have to ask....How much business do you do at church? Is it distracting you from what God wants you to hear? In what ways do you prepare your heart to receive the message when you attend?
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