Worship
Scripture
When I was in college, I remember driving in rural Central Louisiana where I passed a little church building just off Ten Mile Cemetery Road. The church’s name was Occupy Baptist Church #1.
“‘Occupy?’ What a curious name for a church!” I marveled as I drove by.
Barely four miles farther down the road, another country church loomed on the right. I slowed to read the church name on the sign out front: Occupy #2 Baptist Church.
“Oh, my gosh!” I thought. “What in the world? Occupy #1 and Occupy #2? That’s crazy.”
Some time later a friend from that part of Louisiana explained what he understood was the origin of the two Occupy churches. Sometime back in the 19th century, there was Occupy Baptist Church, which predated the Civil War. But a schism arose within the fellowship over a weighty issue: On which side of the vestibule should the hat rack be situated? I suppose the left faction just couldn’t get along with the right faction after one or the other lost the vote in the monthly business meeting, so the losing faction tucked their bibles under their arms and with a holy, indignant “Humph!” stormed out of Occupy Church and started #2 just down the road. And 150 years later, they’re both still open, four miles apart in the remote Louisiana piney woods, each devoted to “living as children of light” as Paul admonished the Ephesians to live in today’s passage (Eph. 4:8).
“The absurdity!” we decry. And we’re right—what happened between the Occupy churches is absurd. The kingdom of heaven must surely be grieved by petty quarrels within the body. The church’s message of light to humanity should never be obscured by silly issues that have no bearing on eternity.
In our walk today, let’s remember that the secular culture around us, the culture before which we live out a calling “as children of light,” longs to criticize us. If our light is diminished by internal disputes, by partisan politics, by mean-spirited stands on cultural issues, by any sort of irrelevance that doesn’t touch eternity, our light is diminished. Let us pray that wisdom and discernment will always inform our conduct so that our lives shine to our sacred purpose.
Prayer
HONOR GOD
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God has given us new life in Christ. Take a moment and thank Him for this incredible gift!
ASK GOD
John 3:21 NIV
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Living by truth brings light and sight. Ask God to give you a heart for His truth. What do you need to confess to Him? Where do you need His help?
SUBMIT TO GOD
John 3:18 NIV
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Submit your heart to God today and live free of condemnation!
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, you are gracious. You’ve given me life. You’ve redeemed my soul, and given me power through the Holy Spirit. Help me to live like you today. In Jesus Name, Amen!