Day 329

Ezekiel 47:1-48:35, 1 Peter 4:1-19, Psalm 133:1-3

Samuel has a phrase which we are trying our best to discourage. Whenever we pass a church he asks “Is that a Jesus died church or a Jesus alive church?” Much as we try not to encourage it, you know what they say – “out of the mouths of babes…”

It is after all a very good question, what do our churches say about our God? Do they point to a God who is dead and buried, or do they point to the resurrection and a Christ who is well and truly alive? The end of the Ezekiel reading has some clear words “The Lord is there”. Is this true of our churches?

I will be honest in saying that I have been to churches where it is quite hard to see where God is. I have been left wondering if God is indeed in that place. I have been a Christian for some time and you have to wonder, if I am left wondering that, then what on earth does an un-churched visitor think?

Does our worship give glory to God? Do our prayers invoke the presence of God? Do our words point to the person of Christ? Do our actions reflect Christ? Does the building speak of a God who is dead or alive?

It is only if we live the resurrection life and make sure the church does the same that we will ever have any luck in spreading the Gospel. It is only when we live in that way that people will say “The Lord is there”.