11/23/24

Ecclesiastes 5:1 NASB1995 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.

Why do you go to church? Be careful how you answer. Hebrews tells us we all need to be in church. It is important. "Do not forsake our own assembling together." However, those of us who have a Personal Savior / Child of God relationship with Christ, need to Guard our steps as we go to the house of God. We must not go to be seen and recognized for what we do there but rather go to hear from God. We need to be prepared to hear Him speak. His words are powerful and authoritative. Hebrews 4:12 NASB95 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

If we go to church and the word of God is read and it doesn't do this, then we didn't listen to it. Our text says Ecclesiastes 5:1a NASB95 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen.

The other side of this is the second half of our text. If we come to church in a way that is not seeking to hear from God then it says you have come to Ecclesiastes 5:1b NASB95 offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.

Do we realize if we come to church for the wrong reason we are doing evil? Please hear me on this. A person needs to be in church. A lost person who knows nothing but sin needs to be in church because they might hear and respond. A person who has a personal relationship with Jesus as their Savior needs to be in church while being careful and always attempting to guard their steps as they head to the house of the Lord. They need to have prepared themselves to listen and hear from God. We must come prepared.

Listen to Jesus as He speaks to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. John 4:23-24 NASB95 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Do not come in your flesh. If you are prepared you will come in spirit and truth. I want to end this devo with scripture. Hebrews 10:19-25 NASB1995 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

This is my prayer for us. That we will

Guard our step and draw near to listen. Do this in spirit and in truth. Hold fast our hope because Jesus' blood has cleansed us

Love Bro. Scott