Just beginning my 4th Moleskine journal. Why do I use “Moleskine”…well…it is what Paul used to write much of the New testament. I like to believe that anyway.
Whenever I finish a journal, I like to review it and see where the Lord has taken me or what he has spoken to me or see where my heart was. The following entry was from the first day of of my last journal:
10/ 14/09
Scriptures for the day:
Proverbs 27
“Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;”
Lord I only want to boast about what you have done…only what to boast about your goals and desires for Your church…only want to boast in You. Thank you for reminding me to know the condition of my finances.
Tozer daily devotional:
“We need to consider that many Christians never get beyond Bethel (meaning the “house of God”). God is in their thoughts but He has not been given first place. Faithfulness to the local church is a good thing; but when it becomes so large and important that it hides God from our eyes, it may become a good thing wrongly used.”
-A.W. Tozer
Lord, thank you for this reminder. I do believe many Christians and churches in America have this problem- a relationship with the church and not with you.
“…the church was never intended to be a substitute for God.” – A.W. Tozer
I believe the reason many of us can’t hear from God is because we have the local church in His place in our hearts. We are more committed to the church than we are to Him. Therefore, I believe, we can’t hear Him. To prepare for a work of God He must be the center of our heart! He must be first! Not our church, not our small group, not our ministry, not our attendance…let nothing replace Him as the center of our lives.
The church if not careful…may become an idol.
End of entry.
Why did I share this with you? Because as I begin a new journal I find my heart right back here. Am concerned that many believers love the church more than they love God. I love church. I love its design. But at times in my own life it became an idol. The command was to “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul and with all of your mind.” Do you love God…above all else?
