NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

ADVENT REFLECTION

“How lovely is thy dwelling place” is the theme for our reflection. Although God is omnipresent, human beings have build a temple specifically consecrated or dedicated to His Holy name where sacrifices will be offered to Him and His glory revealed to His faithful worshippers. The Psalmist derives joy, comfort and fulfillment from spending his time at the dwelling place of the Lord. He says “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God…For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” (Psalm 84:1-2, 10-12)

Beloved in the Lord, the dwelling place of the Lord is lovely because we come together as believers and are able to render our sacrifice of praise, pray with faith and with the assurance that the Lord will manifest His glory and power in our lives. “Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!…O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed!” (Psalm 84:4,8-9). The Psalmist has given us important reasons to yearn or desire to be in the house of God when ever the Lord grants us life and strength.

The House of the Lord or the dwelling place of the Lord is a power house for believers. We go to the dwelling place of the Lord to be empowered through the ministry of the Word (sermons and teachings). Again, we are spiritually inspired through the ministry of music and our faith strengthened through the ministry of the Sacraments (Baptism and Eucharist). Hebrews 10:23-25 encourages us to “… hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” In other words, consistently meeting at the dwelling place of God makes us hold fast to our faith, sustain our love for one another and ultimately prepare for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear friend if we are not mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared to encounter the Lord at His dwelling place, we may often go to His dwelling place empty and come out empty. It is like being a tenant for many years without meeting the landlord. This is the experience of many contemporary Christians. The dwelling place of the Lord has become human-centered and not God-centered. We have reduced the dwelling place of God to singing the praise of men and women who have deified themselves instead pointing worshippers to God, the dwelling place of the Lord has been reduced to a run way where some of our women come to Church dressed to impress their patrons. We are gradually losing the simplicity of dressing so that we may decrease and God may increase during our worship experience. Worship in some churches has moved from God-focus to human-focus worship. Paul admonishes us “… not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). May we encounter the Lord at His dwelling place through the renewal of our minds. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, help us deepen our understanding of worship and strengthen us to yearn for the dwelling place of the Lord even as we completely give ourselves away in serving Him. May we always experience the presence of the Lord in His dwelling place. Amen.

There is no Ewe Summary for today’s reflection. Thank you.