"Today God is reaching down. It is no longer about Him coming down but about our reaching up and responding," 鈥� Pastor Steve Gray, World Revival Church
It is generally accepted that we should be working to increase the number of people attending our worship services.
This challenge is heightened by the need to employ social distancing in these days of pandemic.
Many of us long for the time when the pews were filled, or almost so, when we met for our weekly fellowship. But it is doubtful that a large turn-out on its own will bring any lasting results, either now or when the need to self-isolate has passed, if the presence of God is not sought first and foremost.
The return to prayer and renewed interest in the things of the faith is encouraging, but we need more.
Before places of worship had to close temporarily, faith in God was beginning to show signs of decline. The church had become less important to more and more individuals. Christianity is perceived, by some, as being for past generations but 鈥渘ot for us.鈥�
For many it is promising a place to go if you die today.
But that is of no use if you plan to continue living in this world of ours a while longer. What will happen to the rise in interest in the church, when these challenging times give way to other concerns?
The difficulty of establishing a vital faith increases when we stop calling God into our lives. It is disastrous if we cease reaching out to Him and inviting Him to impact our world.
We can readily see the results of not asking Him to be central in our society.
If we don't continue to look to Him to be part of everything we do, we miss the great blessings He promises to believers.
A helping hand is being held out to a needy world. If we grasp it firmly, we will see changes, not just in our experience of worship, but in life from day to day. The wisdom of reaching out to God for today will be confirmed in the changed lives that we and others will experience.
