On Sunday morning we had the profound experience of having God interrupt our service.
It's always a surreal experience. Here we are, with our planned protocol, our worship agenda which we intend to present to the Lord as a fragrant offering, and God rejects the agenda.
What is He saying? "Listen. I have something to tell you. And I will do whatever is necessary to get your attention so that you hear what I'm saying."
So it was a different service from start to finish. And this week, we'll reflect on the unusual move of God and what it means for us personally and corporately.
Let's start with Pastor Sam.
Traditionally, he sits in the front row. But for yesterday's first service, he stood at the back for the beginning of the worship service. Not the back of the sanctuary, but actually outside of the sanctuary in the back foyer.
And I've been reflecting on this unusual sight. But though it was unusual for him, it is normal for hundreds if not thousands of contemporary Christians. We are indeed in the building, but somehow we are not included in the corporate worship. We've been exiled from the body of believers. Or, we have exiled ourselves.
And we say that we have been in church, but in reality we've only stood outside the "gate". We stood in the hallway. We drank tea in the kitchen. We chatted with our friends in the parking lot. But we never entered into corporate worship.
May I encourage all of us to seek to worship the living God in our exile? Sing His praises in the parking lot. Pray for the households of those who are working in the kitchen. Speak words of encouragement to those who are hanging out in the hallway.
When Pastor Sam was in the foyer, his worship of God never stopped. And those who saw him, rather than trying to engage him in idle conversation, joined with him in the worship of our great God.
Has your tradition of worship been interrupted? Are you in exile? Worship God anyway. Perhaps you will become an agent of transformation for all who see you.
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