讓我們成為建造者，與神一起在祂要的地方同來建造。當真實的來到，不真實的將彰顯出來並且消失殆盡。　

跟隨萬王之王9　

跟隨萬王之王是我們在地上所能擁有最大的探險和最充實的生活；同樣地，拜訪萬王之王的家應是我們所做最令人興奮的事之一。然而至今，許多人去到祂的家─教會，卻是他們生命中最無聊的事，怎麼會如此呢？

簡短的答案是，如果我們的教會很無聊，代表我們去到一個主不會去的教會。怎麼會如此呢？主不是住在祂的子民當中嗎？是的，如果我們邀請祂的話。在啟示錄三章20節，我們看見耶穌站在祂自己的教會門外叩門，看看有沒有人會為祂開門。在這教會時代，耶穌不會去到祂不受歡迎和不被邀請的地方。

有人說如果聖靈離開多數教會，他們甚至不會發現。為什麼呢？因為當聖靈出現時，他們並沒有認出來，也沒有讓位給祂。而那些尋求並渴望祂同在的人，有多少人願意讓祂成為祂自己教會的頭呢？

主會祝福許多祂沒有住在中間的事，基督的身體向來的教導著墨在尋求祂的祝福，勝過尋求主。主會盡可能來祝福祂的子民和任何尋求聚集到祂面前的會眾；然而，在祂祝福之處和居住之處之間有著很大的不同。現在是我們長大成熟，不再只尋求可以從主得著什麼，而是尋求主自己的時候。

這並不是說我們不該尋求祂的祝福，我們當然需要更多祂的祝福，但當這些祝福開始遮蔽我們對主的投入，甚至祝福都可能成為一個偶像。事實已經證明，人們很容易把神的事物塑造成偶像並拿來崇拜，而不是崇拜神。有些人崇拜事奉多過主，有些人甚至崇拜敬拜多過主。我們必須服事主的殿是為了服事祂，我們也被呼召成為敬拜者。我們要怎麼做這些事而沒有讓其偷走我們對主的鍾愛呢？

先從不丟棄我們所擁有的開始；投入在神的祝福、神的殿、敬拜或任何從神來的事，當我們用其來尋求主和事奉主都是好的，但我們絕不能讓這些事成為我們的首要熱愛。

因著順服而去到無聊的教會值得讚賞，特別是當許多人已經完全放棄教會生活時。答案不是拆毀我們所擁有的事物，而是尋求真實新約教會生活的終極彰顯，如同神最初所設計的─真實與神同行，為著主而相聚一起，而不是關於祂的流程或儀式。

正如俗語說：「任何驢子都可以踢掉穀倉，但需要熟練的木匠才能建造。」我們不要成為「吹毛求疵者」，拆毀一切沒有達到聖經標準的事物。反之，讓我們成為建造者，與神一起在祂要的地方同來建造。當真實的來到，不真實的將彰顯出來並且消失殆盡。

這一生有什麼比成為神的居所更重要的事？這是我們被呼召成為的，這應成為我們生命最大的委身，但那看起來像什麼？看起來像耶穌，我們開始變得像祂一樣，做祂曾做過的事。

如果我們每個人在教會聚會中都與耶穌相遇，我們的主崇會是什麼樣子？如果是主在帶領聚會呢？當我們繼續這主題，想一想完美教會和完美教會生活像什麼？然後再想一想我們要如何達到？

(摘自喬納word for the week, Week 39, 2021)
 

Follow the King, Part 9

 Following the King of kings is the greatest adventure and most fulfilling life we can have on this earth. Likewise, visiting the house of the King of kings should be one of the most exciting things we ever do. Yet for far, too many going to His house, the church, can be one of the most boring things in their life. How can this be? 

         The short answer is, if our church is boring, we are going to a church the Lord does not go to. How can that be? Doesn’t the Lord inhabit His people? Yes, if we invite Him in. In Revelation 3:20, we see Jesus standing outside the door of His own church and knocking to see if any will open to Him. In this church age, Jesus will not come where He is not wanted and invited. 

         It has been said that if the Holy Spirit left most churches they would not even notice. Why? Because they do not recognize Him when He is present, nor make a place for Him. And of those who seek and desire His presence, how many are willing to allow Him to be the Head of His church?

         The Lord will bless many things He will not inhabit. For too long the emphasis of teaching in the body of Christ has been more about seeking His blessings than about seeking Him. The Lord will bless His people and any congregation seeking to gather to Him, as much as He can. However, there is a big difference between places He blesses and places He dwells. It is time to grow up and stop only seeking what we can get from Him and seek the Lord Himself. 

         This does not imply we should not seek His blessings. We need more of His blessings, but when the blessings begin to eclipse our devotion, even the blessings can become an idol. In fact, it has proven easy to make idols of the things of God, and worship them rather than Him. Some worship the temple of the Lord more than the Lord of the temple. Some worship the ministry more than the Lord. Some even worship worship more than Him. We must serve the temple of the Lord to serve Him, and we are called to be worshippers. How do we do these things without letting them steal our affections for Him?  

         We begin by not throwing away what we have. Devotion to the blessings of God, the house of God, ministry, worship, or anything else from God is good when used to seek and serve the Lord. But we must not let these become our primary affection. 

         Going to boring church services out of obedience is commendable, especially when so many have abandoned church life altogether. The answer is not to tear down what we have, but to seek the ultimate manifestation of true New Testament church life as it was designed by God to be—a true walk with God Himself, and gatherings that are to Him, not just programs or rituals about Him. 

         As the saying goes, “Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a skillful carpenter to build one.” We do not want to be “faultfinders” tearing down what does not meet biblical standards. Instead, let us become builders with God of the place He wants to dwell. When the true comes, whatever is not true will become manifest and fade away.

         What could possibly be more important in this life than to be the dwelling place of God? This is what we are called to be, and this should be the greatest devotion of our life, but what does that look like? It looks like Jesus, when we start to become like Him and do the works He did. 

         What would our church services be like if we encountered Jesus in each one? What if He were the one leading the services? As we continue this theme, consider what the perfect church and perfect church life would be like. Then think about how we can get there.