"Ruining Ourselves Spiritually"

Israel, the northern 10 tribes called Ephraim because many of the kings came from that tribe, was a people of God going downward. Hosea went to them before their fall trying to stir their hearts to turn back to God. Of course, they did not heed. Here is what is sobering: the people who claimed God as their refuge and help were so taken in by the world around them, mixing themselves with the ideas of those around them that their strength was being devoured and it does not even know it (Hosea 7:6-16). What a shame that people can get themselves into such a state of being all the time thinking they are doing well spiritually!

I walked into a place to worship with the brethren. The first thing I saw was banners hanging around, boards and placards plastered over the walls. It made me pause for a moment, but I am determined not to allow all that to detour me from our purpose of assembling. It didn't take long and when the preacher began sharing whatever it was he had studied to help my faith, I thought I was in a comedy side-show. The focus was on us, the people and under the name of God in building up one another, they used this time just for that purpose. Different ones came up front to express their gratitude, their honors and the such and no one was bothered by it. The book of Hosea came to my mind.

When is it going to be that God enters our assemblies with us? If God were there, where would we focus and what would our attention be called toward? Sometimes when we assemble to worship with the saints, there are brethren who are hurting dealing with situations of health and family heartaches. But we are so focused on us, our accomplishments and calling attention to our "greatness" the Lord is pushed aside. It made me realize that just like in the days of Hosea, many times my brethren are being swallowed up by the surrounding world and spiritual strength is lost and soon, the people of God will stray too or the death of the people (congregation). I'm not trying to berate anyone but call our attention to what is happening many times in what we call our worship. It seems there are two great dilemmas: (1) We have those who care so much about crossing every "t" doctrinally that they lose sight of the whole. Let's compare our doctrine to everyone else and each sermon and message seems to be how right we are and how wrong everyone else is. (2) We have those who are so caught up in "us" that they could care less about the truth unless it is the kind that provides for our happiness and up-building only. "Look at our plaques and banners! It makes us feel great!" In either case, God is left out. One end puts a straitjacket on everyone while the other end doesn't want to hear anything that might make them take away their "good feeling" while blessing the people! Try to take either away, and people get very upset. Something other than Christ has taken them captive (Col. 2:8).

God is holy! God is righteous! God is love! You can't have one part of God without the whole. Maybe we are missing God? We are made holy first, by the blood of Christ. That holiness should lead us into holy behavior. We shouldn't be focusing on our accomplishments. The VERY best we did was sin against God and it was God that took the action to reconcile us back to Himself at the cost of His Son. The holiness of God brings us into the righteousness of God which shows us the love of God. "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (I Cor. 3:16-17) I wonder where the Spirit would lead His people?