I don’t know who wrote this. I saw this in one of the social media feeds. As we prepare to worship this Sunday here is something to consider.

If you go to church looking to become offended, you’ll succeed.
If you go to church looking for places where people fall short, you’ll find them.
If you go to church looking for imperfection, you’ll see it. 

But if you go to church looking for an opportunity to worship alongside broken people (just like you), you’ll find it. 
If you go to church looking for a place to serve, you’ll find one.
If you go to church to love people like Jesus, you can.

10/10 times you find what you’re looking for. 

So as you prepare to go to church this weekend, what will you be looking for?

“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seek the truth, I will forgive this city” (Jeremiah 5:1).

“If you can find but ONE PERSON who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this CITY!!!”

Wow! Wow! Wow!

During the days of Jeremiah, things were not looking good for the Jews. The ten northern tribes of Israel had already been defeated and sent into exile by the Assyrians. For the remaining two souther tribes, things were not looking good. You would think that the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin would have learned their lesson from seeing what happened to the northern ten tribes.

The northern tribes thought they could reject God and live like the other nations. They would make deals with Egypt and worldly leaders to protect them against the Assyrians who were conquering the world. Instead of learning from the misplaced trust of the northern tribes, Judah and Benjamin were copying their game plan!

It was in that context God declared, “If you can find but ONE PERSON who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this CITY!!!”

Two things.

First, Jerusalem and the southern tribes would be utterly defeated. The Temple destroyed. The people and their king utterly humiliated and taken into exile to Babylon. What did God say to the people in Jerusalem? If there is just ONE PERSON. The sad reality is that there were none to be found.

Wow. That’s sad.

Second, look at what just one faithful person can do! One faithful person has the capacity to save the entire city!!! So, what would an entire church filled with faithful people accomplish for the kingdom of God in this city? Can you just imagine!

Let’s do this Little Church! Let’s do this Lakewood Grace!

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

I was born this way.

We hear that a lot in our culture today. I am the way I am because I was born this way. Most of the time people say that to justify who they are and their life choices.

You want to know something? They are absolutely right. They were born this way.

BUT, here is the caveat – being born this way is nothing close to intended this way.

You see, when God created the heavens and the earth and when God created human beings, God created us as he intended – and God saw what he created and declared – “Ahhh. That’s what I’m talking about. This is very good.”

But that’s not the life you and I currently live. Because of the Fall, because of sin, we are born this way.

• Born with broken desires
• Born to yearn and long for the very things that will destroy us
• Born to do the very things that will destroy the hearts of those who love us
• Born to lie, deceive, and cheat

None of these are learned traits. We are born with them.

BUT just because we were born this way does NOT mean that we were intended to be this way. Just because we have these yearnings and desires doesn’t mean they are right, good, or God-honoring.

God invites us to return to who he intended us to be. We do that by repenting and surrendering our disordered and sinful desires and submit to God’s direction.

Born this way. But certainly not intended to be this way. Return. Repent. And Surrender to God’s intended will.