Running to Church

“The Life and Time of Jesus the Messiah”

This year I have been reading a Christian classic in my devotions, “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim. The book goes into great depth about the background of the New Testament gospels and the religious, cultural and social life of the day. As a Jewish Christian, Edersheim was also deeply familiar with the writings of the Jewish Rabbis around the time of Jesus. His knowledge and insight are amazing, especially when you realize that he did his writing in the late 1800’s, without any help from computers. In describing the synagogue service at the time of Jesus, Edersheim writes,

"The weekly Sabbath, the pledge between God and Israel had once more come. To meet it as a bride or queen, each house was adorned on Friday evening. The Sabbath lamp was lighted; the festive garments put on; the table provided with the best the family could afford; and the Qiddush, or benediction, was spoken over the cup of wine, which, as always was mixed with water. And as Sabbath morning broke, they hastened with quick steps to the Synagogue; for such was the Rabbinic rule for going, while it was prescribed to return with slow lingering steps."

How Is Your Attitude?

I read this, I was struck with just how different our attitude about gathering to worship God is. Rather than anticipate Sunday as a great day when the church, the bride of Christ, gathers to worship its savior and Lord, we come more out of duty or guilt. Instead of expecting to meet God, we look at our watches and mark time until the service is over. And instead of hurrying to church with excitement to be able to worship the God of heaven and a reluctance to leave the gathering of God’s people, we drag our feet, come in late and rush home as soon as church is over so we can watch the big game. How different their attitude about gathering for worship was than ours is!

Time for a Change of Heart

We need to remember the exhortation to us by the author of Hebrews, to not forsake our own assembling together, as some people were in the habit of doing, but to gather all the more as we see the day of Christ’s return drawing nearer (Hebrews 10:25). We need the help and encouragement of others now more than ever! So let’s change our hearts and begin to approach Sundays with an attitude of eagerness and anticipation, excited about gathering with God’s people and expecting God to meet us. Let’s be willing to linger with God’s people and see what God might do if we make ourselves available. Who knows? God might just show up in some surprising ways when we actually come expecting to meet Him here with His people. Think about it…

Read more of Jeff and Jim's blogs at http://HeartoftheCanyons.com

THE BEST OF TIMES AND WORST OF TIMES

It was without question the best of times and the worst of times for the followers of Jesus. For three years they listened as Jesus taught truth and refuted error. They watched as he performed miracles, and they observed his ability to love the discarded people of their culture. They were on top of the world! Although they were warned, they could not imagine what was going to happen in the hours ahead. Jesus would be betrayed by one off his “followers” and arrested and falsely accused by the religious “leaders” of the faith He established. He was then going to be tried, found guilty and put to death by a political system His followers hated. All of this would shatter false hopes, but it also would result in the resurrection of new and true hopes.

JESUS PAVED THE WAY FOR REAL HOPE

Jesus’ disciples didn’t know it at the moment, but what they thought was the worst time in their lives paved the way for the best of times. Because of the events of this day, God provided them a lifetime of continued fellowship and intimacy with Him. He connected them with a people to love and a purpose to fulfill. On top of that, He gave them a hope for living beyond the grave. Out of the hopelessness of these terrible three days, Jesus conquered death and the grave to give us a true and living hope!

HOW HAVE YOUR LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTED YOUR HOPE?

We are living in some interesting times. For many of us, the things in which we hope and trust are being threatened. The economy has made our futures uncertain. The political and social climate is confusing, and much of what we believe in is being tested. These circumstances should make us ask the question, “Do the things we believe in offer us a true and living hope?”

DOES THE RESURRECTION REALLY OFFER HOPE?

Easter is God working in the hopelessness of our lives and circumstances to resurrect hope. In Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul reminded the Christians who were suffering for their faith of this certain future when he wrote, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” If Jesus just died, we have no hope. But if He not only died, but rose again, we can have hope!

IT’S FRIDAY BUT SUNDAY’S COMING

For many, the times in which we are now living seem to be the darkest of our lives. Hang on to hope by remembering that our greatest enemy, death, has been conquered so God can bring hope to our hopeless lives. See you this weekend as we remember Christ’s death on Friday evening and then celebrate His resurrection on Sunday. Remember, “It may be Friday, but Sunday is coming!”

Read more of Jim's blogs at http://www.HeartoftheCanyons.com