CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 922

“Leave Different”

…no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered… (Ezekiel 46:9)

On the surface this Scripture reference from Ezekiel chapter 46 deals with orderly traffic flow through the temple when people would come for worship. Many churches today that have back to back worship services also have a prescribed order to enter and exit the sanctuary in order to avoid congestion. However, if we look a little deeper there is a spiritual application as well.

The word translated ‘way’ in the original Hebrew text is ‘derek’, which denotes a trodden road and is used to describe figuratively a course of life or mode of moral action and character.

God is telling us that we should not enter His presence and leave without being changed. We should not go out the same way we came in. Our course of life, our moral actions and character need to be purer and more holy.

…it is written,  “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

You worship God and enter into His presence with every spontaneous prayer throughout the day. You enter His presence during your daily devotional prayer time. You enter His presence when you attend church services. You should not leave the same way you came in. Every encounter with God should change you and help you grow to be more Christ-like. We need to enter His presence seeking first His kingdom and righteousness, not seeking an eternal blessing machine.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. … your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:6-8)

Far too many of us who profess to follow Christ seek a social club experience in church. We are entertained by the music rather than ushered into the presence of God in worship and praise. We consider it meddling when the Pastor preaches the truth of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit begins to prick our hearts for change that we resist. We then leave the same way as we entered – unchanged.

May the Holy Spirit create in you a hunger to be more like Jesus Christ. May your every uttered prayer and each of your encounters with the presence of God work to bring about change as you yield to the potter’s hand allowing Him to mold and shape you into the vessel He desires for His good purpose and to fulfill His perfect will.