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Scripture for the day: Psalm 74:8-9 They have set fire to Your sanctuary; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.” They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet; nor is there any among us who knows how long.
Thought for the day: OK proud, spoiled, pampered American Christian (and any others in the so-called “developed” nations), this is going to be short and to the point.  Please note that I left out the word “sweet” in that old saying.  What if?  What if you got up on Sunday, showered and dressed as usual, got in your car and went to your local church, only to find the doors locked and signs posted on the doors letting you know the building had been confiscated by the government and you were no longer allowed to meet there?  What if every cross were removed from its place so there could be no reminder of our faith?  What if every Christian bookstore, every radio station, every TV program, every reference of any kind, were suddenly removed?  What if search warrants were issued and every bible or other piece of Christian literature that could be found was removed from your home?  What if you were suddenly faced with arrest and/or imprisonment for meeting together to pray or study God’s Word?  What would you do?  And what if you had no hope that the situation was only temporary?  All indications pointed to the situation remaining as it had become for the rest of your life, however long (or short) that might be?
 Now, don’t misunderstand; I believe the church that sits on the corner as a reminder of the fact that the Lord is still with those who choose to follow Him is incredibly important. The sacraments, classes, studies, sermons and other activities believers participate in have the potential to build our faith as we interact with others, blessing and being blessed. Last Sunday we stopped on the way to church to pick up my sister-in-law. She is 91 years old and had just gotten home after two weeks in the hospital and two more in a rehab center. Very frail and in significant pain, she took her place in the pew, to the surprise of many. Someone remarked to me, “Wow! I can’t believe she’s here after what she’s experienced recently.” I smiled and said, “Well, she’s not dead, and she’s not in the hospital; there’s no other place for her to be on the Lord’s day.” People were encouraged and challenged by her dedication and that’s just one reason why our gathering together is so important (and no, I don’t believe zoom meetings are a reasonable substitute unless there is simply no alternative).
The fact is, many, many Christians would fall apart at the seams and cease to hold to their faith.  Oh, I know the answer most of us think we would give in such a situation: “There’s no way I’d ever let those things destroy my faith.  I’d remain true no matter what!”  And I think most of us would actually mean it.  But the truth is that most of us in Western civilization are so dependent on the trappings of faith that, were those trappings to suddenly disappear, our faith would go with them.  Many identify so intimately with the building that if the structure were destroyed, their faith would go with it.  Others are so dependent on Christian TV, radio, books and other accessories that if those things were done away with, I’m afraid they wouldn’t know how to function.
 The children of Israel were in just such a situation.  They’d been taken into captivity, their church (Temple) had been destroyed, every vestige of their religion was gone; even the religious leaders, the prophets, were nowhere to be found.  Now what?  What were they to do?  To whom could they turn?  Everything that was familiar, safe and reassuring about their faith had been stripped away.  Why do you think that may have been?
 Could it be that, from time to time, the Lord will strip away those things that are in danger of replacing Him as our source of faith and confidence?  Could it be that He must sometimes teach us the lesson that our faith is in Him, not in the institutions, symbols and other trappings of religion that have become so meaningful to us?  
 Could it be that, from time to time, He’s trying to tell us: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus?”
Now go take on your world.  -  Bill