A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Missing Jesus"

There was a television advertisement a while back where a woman is on a whale watch. As the boat heads out to sea she excitedly proclaims to the people around her that she has waited her whole life for this. She just can't wait to see the whales. She then proceeds to begin rummaging through her purse in search of a piece of gum. As she does, several whales can be seen off the side of the boat. Everyone else is taking pictures, "OU-ing" and "Ah-ing." She finally finds her gum and raises her head only to discover that she has missed it all and they are headed back to port.

Unfortunately, this is a picture of many Christian worship services. God's people gather for worship and end up just like the woman in the advertisement, so distracted by the lesser important that Jesus and what He is doing is missed. We get concerned about what hymns are being or not being sung. We get busy catching up on the latest news. We are worried about our schedules and getting everything done. We're concerned about what everyone else is wearing or saying or doing. Other things distract us from the essential thing. We say that we come expecting Jesus to work and move among us, but our actions reveal that we really don't expect Him at all. We are like the people of Nazareth. Matthew, Mark and Luke record the fact that Jesus went to His hometown and could not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith. (Matthew 13; Mark 6; Luke 4) The people were astonished by His teaching, but got all wrapped up in the other details. Their discussion revolved around Jesus, His mother, His earthly father, and His siblings. There was God in flesh among them, but they missed Him!

How would we react if we were to walk into church service and found Jesus sitting on the platform? Would things be different? Would our level of expectation intensify? The astonishing reality is that He is actually present with us! He may not be physically present with us, but He is present! He promised in Matthew 18:20 that where two or three come together in His Name, He is present in their midst. He is with His people whenever they gather together in His Name!

Through John the Revelator, Jesus speaks to His church. In 3:20 He paints a word picture of Himself, standing outside His church knocking, requesting entrance. The people are busy doing "church things" and in the process haven't even noticed that Jesus is not there. They have pushed Him out of the way. They are spending so much time looking for a piece of gum that they are unaware He is at the door knocking. He desperately wants to be present in their midst. Had they truly gathered in His Name, who could even imagine what could have taken place?

Beloved let us enter into the wonder of Jesus' presence when we gather to worship. Let us enter with holy anticipation of His presence and His working. We must refuse to be distracted. We need to enter into His presence expectant hearts, with minds concentrating on Him, with bodies poised to respond to His Word, and with lives open, ready to be transformed, filled, and used by God! Let us always be gratefully awestruck with the wondrous reality - He is here! Hallelujah! He is here! Amen!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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