⁹Then Nehemiah, that is, the governor, and Ezra the priest-scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people: “Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not lament, do not weep!”—for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 

Nehemiah 8

So often we set foot in church looking to be blessed

 Blessed personally, uplifted, even entertained. In these last days it would seem that God’s Church has become a place of entertainment. The beautiful music, the powerfully dynamic preaching, the theatrical atmosphere all work together to carry us through an emotional high. Yet… when God’s word truly touches hearts it usually results in weeping, not rejoicing. Through His word we get a revelation of how corrupt we are, we see the evil deeds and motives in our own thoughts and heart, we understand how we have so often grieved God Himself with our selfishness.

Grieving is the first emotion brought on by meeting God personally. All through scripture we see the man that meets God on his knees, and on his face, honoring a holy God, blinded by His glory and ashamed of our sin. God responds to our humility by rising us up, but only after we face our depraved humanity.

Something is amiss if the words of a holy God do not cause grieving in our hearts, something is missing if true remorse does not fall on us when in church. By missing the grieving experience, we are missing out on the blessing of God’s loving hand lifting us above the reality of our sin. 

Without first seeing the wretch we are, we can not comprehend how sweet the sound is of the amazing Grace shown to us.