Daily Devotions
Have You Ever Gone to Church & Not Thought About Jesus?
Reading for October 23rd: Luke 7-8
Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair..."
Luke 7:44
Have you ever gone to church and not thought about Jesus? It's really easy to do. Our thoughts are easily distracted by trivialities: deadlines, tests, projects, games, etc. Many distractions are innocent: crying babies, train wrecks in the song service, silly things that happen during worship, etc.
More troubling is when our minds are filled with judgment. Some of us fail to think of Jesus because someone came "dressed down" to worship, while others are distracted by those whose dress they deem to be too formal. Some are "worship critics" judging everyone who leads in worship, from the announcement maker to the brother who leads the closing prayer.
Worse still, are those who fail to think about their Savior because of bitterness and resentment, even toward a brother or sister sitting next to them in worship. They cannot think about Jesus because of an unforgiving spirit.
How do we eliminate these distractions? The key is an humble spirit that produces a spirit of gratitude. When we fully grasp the magnitude of our sin and what God has done for us, how can we think about anything else?
Only one person in Simon's house worshiped Jesus, and it was the visitor, not the host. Simon was too full of himself to even notice Jesus.
What about you?
Lord Jesus, accept our worship as we fall down before you and cover your feet with our tears.
