July 20, 2021

LOOKING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES

John 5:39-40

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Personal Challenge

In the days that Jesus walked on this earth, the chosen people, His early church, were all wrapped up in searching their scriptures and observing their traditions in search of the coming Messiah. All the while, their Messiah was standing there before them and being ignored by them. He did not fit their preconceptions of who He would be and therefore, they missed Him. We are seeing the same thing happening today in our churches. People are so focused on searching for Jesus in their teachings, their traditions, and their trappings of piety, that they do not see Him standing right there in our midst. He promised that He would be with us always. He proclaimed the Kingdom of God is amongst us. And yet, just like our ancestors of old, we ignore Him and look for Him in places where He is not. Is it no wonder that our churches are dying and being devoured from within by petty arguments and politics. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!