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Scripture Reflection by Sang Sur on John 5:39-40 posted January 28, 2010 - Prayer Tents
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Let's try rephrasing these verses in our modern day terms. “You diligently go to church because by attending, you feel you are spiritual, completing the righteous duty of a believer, meeting God's command about the sabbath, and because Sang is cool (<—yeah, I added this part!).
But seriously, it is sad that many people go to church for years, some for decades, and some, until they die without really knowing God. Yes, people who attend church regularly may end up in hell and they may never receive the blessings God has for them.
How do you view church? Is it an organization you attend just for the sake of doing it? If so, you are wasting your time.
For some of you who are “trying” the church thing out ~ I encourage you to at least go all the way for the short duration you plan to attend, and strive to meet and experience God instead of just standing at the side lines. What is the point of your wasting your time coming and leaving while not knowing whether God is real or not? Would you stay for a decade or more just as many people do and never find out how much God loves you personally? How God speaks to you? And how God cares about the pains and sorrows in your life?
If you're not interested in meeting and experiencing God, what's the point? Why bother? So when the pastor ever directs you to pray, I encourage you to go deep in prayer and tell God all that is in your heart.
And to many of you who are seeking, ask God to reveal Himself to you. Ask God to help you through your tough situation in life. And when the pastor tells you to sing, sing with all your heart, give it all you got with the heart intent that you want to meet and experience God.
He will talk to you, and give you the guidance on what you ought to do and where to go from where you are. (If you need help with this, just let me know).
For some of you churchy people, check your heart that you are not working the Scriptures and your involvement in church to manipulate God.
There are many, even pastors, who study Scriptures and make a whole course or a formula on how to make God work for us. Some pastors actually become pastors because they believe this position would give them this “special privilege” where they may either manipulate God or manipulate people who may see them as ones God speaks to in a special voice. Be careful!
Even though studies and going deep into Scripture is beneficial, and though becoming stewards of God is an awesome calling, we must recognize that God cannot be manipulated, for He is God!
Scripture is for us to understand His heart—His desire to build a relationship with us. You don't need a seminary degree to know God or hear from God. You don't need to be a pastor's pet to have a deep relationship with God. God gave all of us the innate value—His children—that allows us to connect with Him.
That's the missing part in many of our lives, a relationship with our Creator, our Maker, our heavenly Father. So, don't do the church thing—but rather, come to meet with God and form a relationship with Him.
This is the reason for which Jesus came—to love us, that we may love Him back.
39“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
John 5:39-40 (NLT)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
New York, NY
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New York, NY
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Scriptures Marked by Sang Sur
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