Now, therefore, this saith the Lord
of hosts: Consider your ways.
Haggai 1:7
Today I tried to challenge the church to seek a deeper relationship with the Lord...
of hosts: Consider your ways.
Haggai 1:7
Today I tried to challenge the church to seek a deeper relationship with the Lord...
So at the prompting of the Holy Spirit I read a short portion from the little known Old Testament book of the prophet, Haggai. I then invited those who wanted to, to join me by lying face down on the floor of the chapel in order to prostrate ourselves before God as an act of humble adoration, worship and contrition.
I also told the congregation that it was optional. I would never order them to lie on a dirty floor, let alone with their clean Sunday clothing. I told them, too, that if any did not want to place his face to the floor, he could just as well pray from his seat. Yet many did get on the floor as we cried out to God asking for His forgiveness if in any way we have failed Him. And while we were doing this, the choir sang, "Holy, Holy, Holy," one of Christianity's classic hymns.
It was a very moving moment for the fifty or so prisoners who were present. It was not a show. Instead, as I told the men beforehand, "Our hearts need to be broken." Most, I think, understood this. Putting our bodies face down to the floor as, for us, an outward demonstration of the need to learn humility. The prophets of old often did the same. They were not too proud to bow to the One they called Lord.
And in the book of Revelation, I told the brothers, the twenty-four elders who sit encircled around the Throne of God, do something similar. They're seen in the Scriptures as casting their crowns before the Lord Jesus. Then they fall to the floor. "And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped Him that liveth for ever and ever" (Revelation 5:14b).
Today, in a New York State correctional facility, several dozen convicted felons were not ashamed to do likewise. For Jesus is worthy of our worship, as well.
D.B.
I also told the congregation that it was optional. I would never order them to lie on a dirty floor, let alone with their clean Sunday clothing. I told them, too, that if any did not want to place his face to the floor, he could just as well pray from his seat. Yet many did get on the floor as we cried out to God asking for His forgiveness if in any way we have failed Him. And while we were doing this, the choir sang, "Holy, Holy, Holy," one of Christianity's classic hymns.
It was a very moving moment for the fifty or so prisoners who were present. It was not a show. Instead, as I told the men beforehand, "Our hearts need to be broken." Most, I think, understood this. Putting our bodies face down to the floor as, for us, an outward demonstration of the need to learn humility. The prophets of old often did the same. They were not too proud to bow to the One they called Lord.
And in the book of Revelation, I told the brothers, the twenty-four elders who sit encircled around the Throne of God, do something similar. They're seen in the Scriptures as casting their crowns before the Lord Jesus. Then they fall to the floor. "And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped Him that liveth for ever and ever" (Revelation 5:14b).
Today, in a New York State correctional facility, several dozen convicted felons were not ashamed to do likewise. For Jesus is worthy of our worship, as well.
D.B.
