Meeting God

For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

Matthew 18:20

A YOUNG GIRL SAT BESIDE her mother in church. Like most children (and, sadly, many adults), her attention was neither easily captured nor easily held. So much of what happened during church seemed uninteresting. Quite frankly, she was bored.

Then she noticed a bronze plaque prominently placed on the wall, depicting stars, letters, and the American flag. Pointing to the plaque, she whispered to her mother, “What’s that?” Graciously, the young mother replied, “Oh, those are the names of the people from our church who died in the service.”

There was a long pause. Suddenly, the little girl demanded her mother’s attention again. With a sense of concern—almost panic—she asked, “Mom, was that in the first or the second service?”

Though humorous, this story illustrates a common Sunday morning experience for many. It’s safe to say that truly life-changing encounters with the living God are all too often missing from our worship services. Sometimes we don’t come expectantly, as we should. One of the greatest needs among believers today is an encounter with God. We desperately need a life-changing glimpse of the wonder, power, and mercy of the God we serve.

Worship occurs when people who have fallen in love with the God of the universe engage with Him. It’s a meeting between God and His people. Worship does not lead to an encounter with God—it is an encounter with God.

BOTTOM LINE

The next time you go to worship, seek to encounter the living God. He is ready and willing to meet with you.

Moment of Strength: Psalm 95:6