“When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead. When they enter, the prince shall enter with them, and when they go out, he shall go out.” Ezekiel 46:9-10
Ezekiel addresses the people of the land, prophesying regarding God’s temple, priests, sacrifices, and ongoing worship. At the regular appointed feasts, they were to enter by one gate and leave by another, accompanied by the prince. Their time of worship, remembrance, and celebration was to move them forward and onward in companionship with their Sovereign. (Ezekiel 45:13-35)
Getting before the Lord in worship and moving through His sanctuary at His side redirects us. The humdrum of days can motor into seasons and years where we feel in a rut- of zeal, or inspiration, or mindset. Stuck in routine, or wrong thinking we cannot shake, we might work hard and even fast, but harden into complacency, fear change, and lack hope beyond today and vision for what the Lord would do. (Psalm 73:13-17)
Time spent with the Lord can shake off malaise, mental quandaries, and spiritual paralysis. Worship makes a difference by connecting us with the Holy One. If we approach the Lord with expectancy, and anticipate moving forward and out with Him, the focus and by-product of that time is altered. Rather than going through motions of shallow repetitious exercises and rewinding to repeat, we enter His space one way, and leave another, marked by genuine offerings and His powerful presence.
How eager are we to meet with the Lord and be made different? Is His sanctuary, and our time spent together, a hallowed place of wholehearted praise, earnest confession, hearty thanksgiving, and dependence? How can we develop greater eagerness for His sanctification?
What effect has private worship had on decisions, outlook, demeanor? Where do we need refreshed habits, new direction, a change of attitude? Spending time with Jesus will certainly change us.
“Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of your tone;
As you have so’t, so let me seek
Your erring children, lost and lone.
Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wand’ring and the wav’ring feet;
Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Your hung’ring ones with manna sweet.
Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things that you impart,
And wing my words, that I may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
Oh, grant my spirit to renew,
That I may speak with soothing pow’r
A word in season, as from you,
To weary ones in needful hour.
Oh, fill me with your fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart o’erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Your love to tell, your praise to show.
Oh, use me, Lord, use even me
Just as you will, and when, and where,
Until your blessèd face I see,
Your rest, your joy, your glory share.” ~ Frances Havergal (1872)
Father, daily make me more like You, transformed to affect and bless my corner of the world.
