Meetings can be super
productive, but they can also be long and boring. I enjoy face-to-face
interaction in meetings, but I also like getting to the point. I have mixed feelings about meetings...how
about you?
Some managers I've worked with have not led meetings very well. If there is no clear agenda, a meeting quickly falls flat. Others want to talk, talk, and talk more than execute. You need a good balance of listening, talking and brainstorming to have a productive meeting.
Isaiah has long been my favorite book of the Bible for its beautiful imagery and promises. This year, I turned to The Message for a fresh translation, and I read this interesting take on Isaiah 1:10-15.
Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings--
meetings, meetings, meetings--I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
God's people were going through the motions. Their meetings meant nothing to God because they were all talk and no heart. God wanted them to come clean and demonstrate their love for him and for others more than he wanted another shallow meeting with them.
God craves relationship with us. If our heart isn't in our meeting times, whether they are private times of prayer or public times of corporate worship, he knows. He wants us to develop a relationship of talking, listening, and sharing ideas with him more than he wants our rote rhythms.
This is how the scripture continues in Isaiah 10:16-17.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
I love the practicality of God's Word. He wants us to seek him in private, heart-to-heart meetings where our hearts are purified by his forgiveness. But equally so, he wants us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. I need this reminder today, and maybe you do too!
Some managers I've worked with have not led meetings very well. If there is no clear agenda, a meeting quickly falls flat. Others want to talk, talk, and talk more than execute. You need a good balance of listening, talking and brainstorming to have a productive meeting.
Isaiah has long been my favorite book of the Bible for its beautiful imagery and promises. This year, I turned to The Message for a fresh translation, and I read this interesting take on Isaiah 1:10-15.
Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings--
meetings, meetings, meetings--I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
God's people were going through the motions. Their meetings meant nothing to God because they were all talk and no heart. God wanted them to come clean and demonstrate their love for him and for others more than he wanted another shallow meeting with them.
God craves relationship with us. If our heart isn't in our meeting times, whether they are private times of prayer or public times of corporate worship, he knows. He wants us to develop a relationship of talking, listening, and sharing ideas with him more than he wants our rote rhythms.
This is how the scripture continues in Isaiah 10:16-17.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
I love the practicality of God's Word. He wants us to seek him in private, heart-to-heart meetings where our hearts are purified by his forgiveness. But equally so, he wants us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. I need this reminder today, and maybe you do too!
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings and God's peace to you,
Photo from Canva.com
Reflection questions:
1. Are you going through the motions with God in any way?
2. What would you like to say in a personal meeting with God?
2. What would you like to say in a personal meeting with God?
Great post , Sarah. I enjoy the reflection questions too. In my meeting with God. I would first offer Him a thousand or more "thank yous" for saving me. Then I would ask Him is there something I could be doing better in service for Him? I try to guard myself against going through the motions. I do get excited to see what He's going to reveal to me in His word. Thank you for sharing all of these posts. What a fantastic idea. Have a wonderful week and God bless.
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