For those of you who know of our church’s situation with the airport, you can probably imagine that is on my mind quite a bit, as I try to lead our church forward in God’s best path for us.
One of those things that I think about often is our future meeting place. Will it be our own, or will we have to rent it? How much will it cost to build a new building? If we build, will we be able to include everything we want right away, or will we have to “make do” for a while?
And then my reading in Jeremiah today brings me to chapter 22. I’m reading in the New Living Translation (2nd ed.):
And the LORD says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor. He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace with huge rooms and many windows. I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar and paint it a lovely red.’ But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king! Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the LORD. Jeremiah 22:13-16 (NLT2)
How appropriate! “A beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!” A beautiful meeting place does not make a great church!
“He gave justice and help to the poor and needy… Isn’t that what it means to know me?”
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27 (NLT2)
I have several meetings over the next four weeks. I believe that it will be in these meetings that God is going to show His future for our church. Please pray with me that I won’t be slow in picking up His signals.
No matter the outcome of our discussion with the airport, no matter what building we may or may not have, our mission and focus cannot change:
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;” Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)
Until next time,
Dan’l