Awesome. We didn't have a great turnout at our prayer meeting last night. So after an awesome hour of pure Goditude, those of us who were there just sort of looked at each other and asked "Why would anyone want to be anywhere else tonight?"
Of course, lots of people have to get up early for work or have other community commitments. So there are perfectly legitimate reasons not to attend a gathering during the middle of the week. But the words you quote ring very true: "They are rejecting me as their king." We want to be ruled by a Saul, a world-spirit who we hope will somehow help us satisfy our carnal natures -- rather than a transcendent Lord who translates us into an unseen Kingdom of non-contingent joy, peace, and righteousness.
I think going back to the discussion we were having in the other post, the spiritual significance of Christ being born in a manger, and there being no room at the inn, is that we too just don't make room for God in our hearts. As you said, we need to take care of our earthly obligations, but too often we make the mistake of compartmentalizing our lives so that we do not allow God to be present with us in even those aspects of our lives, but push Him to the margins of our day, maybe praying before meals and before bed, occasionally reading Scripture, going to church on Sunday - and that being considered real devotion! True devotion, piety, can only happen when we allow God to rule every aspect of our lives.
The good news, of course, is that while your turnout wasn't as great as it was hoped, the turnout that was there was I'm sure filled with the fire of the Spirit, and that zeal imprinted on your hearts will be a powerful force in bringing the conversion of many. You rock, Lenny!
We had a ministers' luncheon yesterday, and one of the guys who gave his testimony made exactly this point -- that he no longer compartmentalizes the sacred and the secular like he once did. This has been a real journey for him. But now that he has had this revelation, he is able to see God operating in new ways. So your point is an excellent one.
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Of course, lots of people have to get up early for work or have other community commitments. So there are perfectly legitimate reasons not to attend a gathering during the middle of the week. But the words you quote ring very true: "They are rejecting me as their king." We want to be ruled by a Saul, a world-spirit who we hope will somehow help us satisfy our carnal natures -- rather than a transcendent Lord who translates us into an unseen Kingdom of non-contingent joy, peace, and righteousness.
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The good news, of course, is that while your turnout wasn't as great as it was hoped, the turnout that was there was I'm sure filled with the fire of the Spirit, and that zeal imprinted on your hearts will be a powerful force in bringing the conversion of many. You rock, Lenny!
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