TREMBLING

Today's reading: Ezra 6-10

"When I heard this, I tore my clothing, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down utterly shocked. Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel came and sat with me because of this unfaithfulness of his people. And I sat utterly appalled until the time of the evening service." Ezra 9:3-4 NLT

We have church meetings to discuss budgets.

We have gatherings at the church to eat.

We assemble for worship.

We join hands in praying for the sick and afflicted, the politicians we don't agree with and current events.

But to gather in conviction and repentance?

To sit silently sorrowful for where we have allowed sin to creep into our church houses, our sacred houses of worship, His house? 

To consider God's Word and tremble at what it means for us, for our loved ones, for the world?

To bow before God and truly be sorry for where we have fallen slack in our own individual Christian disciplines?

To quote an old hymn, How long has it been?  

My guess is... too long.