Well this post wasn't written from Russia but definitely some thoughts the Lord laid on my heart while traveling to and from Russia. Anytime you go on a missions trip, it is a great time to reprioritize and relook at things of life simply because you have one single focus and it is to spread the Gospel. When you have to look to Jesus day in and day out for your strength and your focus, you can look on life with a clearer view. This post will be just that - a clearer view of what's important. It will be blunt and challenging but it will be fruitful if we take to heart what the Lord wants to share with us.
First off, a series of questions the Lord spoke to my heart about: Why is it we can take a week off from work for a missions trip but can't take an hour a week to pray with the body? Prayer services are the lowest attended services in the church today and if you can get just 5% to come out, you are doing well. We simply shouldn't be okay with that. Somehow though we justify our actions by saying we are tired or have had a long week or don't need to pray with the body. Acts 2:42 tells us that the early church "continued steadfastly...in prayers". So why is it we have no trouble leaving for a while to go share the gospel with people but we can't pray for an hour for those places that we went sharing? Now your church may not have a prayer service and if so, then continue (and if you're not, start) praying for the missionaries that are spreading the gospel and your brothers/sisters in Christ in other countries that you don't know personally. But specifically to those at CC Lynchburg, start coming out to Sunday night prayer! Unless you work on Sunday nights you don't have any excuse not to make it out to at least one prayer meeting per month (and if you are doing some sort of ministry [worship team, children's ministry, etc.] then be an example and come out more often). If you have children, take turns with the wife/husband so one of you can come pray. We need to be praying and there is power in corporate prayer. If you've been overseas on a missions trip, you know this to be true. Our time is fruitful because of the prayers of the saints back home so stop making excuses and come out and pray.
Why can we tirelessly serve overseas but can't make it to a Wednesday night service when we are tired? I have been guilty of this one from time to time and it's because our/my priorities are out of wack. Now true, one doesn't HAVE to go to church everytime the door is open to be spiritual or to grow, but the point is that we have no problem pouring our lives out while overseas and continuing on when we are tired; when it comes to going to church when we are tired back home, somehow it becomes a different story. I have heard people say they've had a long day at work and they just need their rest. Does the service (and Jesus in the service) not provide you the true rest you need? I no longer think this excuse is applicable anymore because when we use it we are saying church is a burden and that's dangerous territory. I simply look at my wife to another reason this excuse is poor - my wife works far harder than I do and most people. She stays at home and labors in love with our kids and she doesn't get a scheduled lunch break. She gets her break if/when the kids allow for one. And not only does she look after our two sons, but she does housework as well. And yet, after a tiring day, she still makes it out for Wednesday night service. If there is anyone I know who could deserve a "night off", it would be her but she realizes church is the place to be to find rest! Gene & Stacy Jackson are other great examples as they both work hard and then come and serve with children's ministry. There are plenty of other examples too, so we need to rethink what is important to us. Fellowshipping with other believers and hearing the Word taught should be high on our priority list. I think the Lord will sustain you and give you the energy to come listen. Even if you zone in and out because you have had a looooonnnnngggg day, you still are an example to others around you.
In conclusion, should you feel bad if you stay home for a Sunday night prayer or a Wednesday night service? Does it make you worse of a Christian? No and the point isn't to say you must be at church everytime the doors are open. However, we do need to reexamine our hearts and priorities. Don't feel bad for staying home now and again because sometimes your family simply needs you, but staying home should be the abnormal, not the normal. If you reading this and quickly are bucking at everything that was said and trying to justify your actions, odds are you are one of the ones who has misplaced priorities. Again, it is a heart issue and not a works righteousness issue but we hope to see you alongside of us praying on Sunday nights and worshipping on Wednesday nights (or at least doing it at your home church).
More to come on boldness in a later blog....
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