…Heart of Worship
I recently read that, after the House of Commons was bombed during World War II, Winston Churchill, then Prime Minister, told Parliament that it must be rebuilt as per its original specifications. He stated that it must be small so that debates would continue to be face to face, that it must be oblong so that politicians could move around the centre. This, of course, meant that the party system was protected – each side facing each other across the room and requiring immense and careful thought about crossing to the other side. And recently we have seen the consequences of such an action. Churchill concluded with “We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us”.
In the television series Once Upon A Time, committing an action that is less than good, a crime, something that hurts someone or which is done for the wrong reasons results in the character's heart receiving darkness and starting to blacken. According to the series, a blackened heart will only get worse as it begins to destroy itself from the inside out and once your heart goes black, there's no going back.
In Exodus, eight chapters are dedicated to reporting God's instructions on how to build the Tabernacle and six more detail how Israel built it. In Genesis, God gives detailed and precise instructions to Noah on how to build the ark. Today God does not give such specific instructions with respect to the bricks and mortar of our places of worship. We, our very beings, should be set apart – a Tabernacle – for God to dwell in. Wherever we meet to worship God and experience His presence should be treated as a sacred space where we gather with our hearts, minds and souls ready to hear and receive from God. We should be aware that God is present with us. God is never absent from us. He is with us always, everywhere. Let God shape us. Listen to what He is trying to tell us.
And how can we protect our hearts and stop ourselves becoming “black-hearted”. Our actions and their consequences affect ours and others' lives and hearts. The simple answer is that God keeps and guards our hearts and souls; whilst we are commanded by God to keep ourselves in His Word. The Lord wants us to protect and guard our hearts by filtering our emotions, thoughts, responses [.] through His Word.
…keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (Jude 21)
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (Psalm 18:30)
“I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus”
With love, Angie
