… and corporations replaced houses of presence. Show’s and concerts replaced the cloud.
And heavenly songs that used to fall into the hearts of trustworthy Levites during precious moments of worship are now replaced by the hurry of songwriting collabs and gatherings that demand a quota.
And so, today, 28 minute talks replace the breaking of the bread of life found in the depths of the scriptures. Shows replace holy offerings of incense and then, the fragrance lifts.
Jesus walks away while His gifts remain. But the intangible, I pray this never happens here, the intangible in the air is gone because we’ve turned our faces to another.
Gifted musicians replace holy Levites. Gifted vocalists replace Mary’s of Bethany.
The magnetic pull of His residence among people is replaced by marketing.
He once drew them. Now, the dollars draw them and we call it wisdom. Church planting initiatives replace his glory, yet we continue because growth takes place.
And the young, childlike, born-again believer once listened to songs and teachings with his or her heart. Their heart was the barometer. It was the presence of the Spirit upon our hearts that told us whether a song was even good, or a sermon was worth listening to.
It was the warmth in our hearts that drew us to worship or to listen. The choice was made through sensitivity to His touch.
There are a few ploys from hell that are more riddled with the deceit than heavy ministry idols that we construct in our own strength and then renamed them our callings.
According to Jesus, we have one calling… for this is the will of the Father to cling to the Son. Oh what a tragedy to labor in His name for our entire lives and all the while having been driven by the devil.
Have we forgotten that our good Shepherd never drives us? Is He not the cloud, the One shining in the midst of the cloud, who leads and offers rest? All the while we believe we do it for Him, all in His name.
Precious Jesus… deliver your people. Deliver us, and have mercy on us all.
Truly be our everything.
Amen.