"Holy Ground"

Christian Encouragement November 5, 2000 Hi Everyone! If you'll recall with me the story of God speaking to Moses through a burning bush in Exodus 3:4,5 it says, "God called to him from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!' And Moses said, 'Here I am.' "Do not come any closer", God said. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Holy Ground. How often do we come to church to worship God and stop to "take off the things of this world" before we enter the sanctuary? We chatter outside of the sanctuary. Do we chatter inside? The children run and play outside of the sanctuary. Do they run and play inside? We enjoy food and drink in the fellowship hall outside of the sanctuary. Do we eat and drink inside? We lay down and sleep at home. Do we lay down and sleep in the sanctuary? The answer to all of these questions depends on what the Lord, and we as a church, consider to be "Holy Ground". Let's say, if we stopped at the doors of the sanctuary, "dropped off the things of this world" such as chatter, eating, drinking, sleeping, running and playing, would this mean church couldn't be "fun" anymore? Of course not! I personally feel great enjoyment when I am worshipping the Lord whether it be through music, listening to Bro. Vlot play the harmonica, praying, hugging someone, listening to the pastor bring God's Word, or encouraging a brother or sister in Christ. How many of us would find church less enjoyable if we did things "decently and in order"? Everyday, how many of us church members fight traffic, go to jobs we may or may not like, clean house, mow the lawn, raise our kids, talk to creditors, pay bills, push our way through the crowds at an over-priced grocery store, stand in line at an over-heated KMart, run the kids here and there, spend time working out squabbles with our spouses and countless other somewhat stressful, yet needful things that we must do? The earth is spinning and everything on it seems to be spinning even faster! When I think of "Church", I think of a special place. A place where we as God's children can meet together and worship HIM. A sacred place where we can stop, "take off the frenzied pace of our lives in this world" and just think only on the Lord. A place of reverence. Holy Ground. David puts it beautifully: "I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells." Ps.26:8 "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, TO GAZE UPON THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD AND TO SEEK HIM IN HIS TEMPLE." Ps. 27:4 Church fellowship is definitely important. Rest and laughter are important. Eating and drinking are important. And so, too, is taking the time to be still. This doesn't mean we are to come to God's house with stone faces and look and act dead! Let's just chatter, fellowship and play, eat and sleep outside of the sanctuary. "There is a time for everything", says Solomon. When we as a church learn what Holy Ground means, then we will be able to better comprehend where we are standing and will show the Lord the respect He deserves as we worship together there. I encourage all of us to consider this issue and make it a point of prayer. May God richly bless each and every one us as we search His Word and as we seek His face at all times. God bless you, Debbie Reed-Parman

"Holy Ground"

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