A Different Way

One of my favorite songs is "A Different Way" which states in the chorus that "no matter what road you may be walking come to Jesus today and you'll leave a different way". Our personal worship should indeed change the way we leave so that every time we come to God we leave different.

Reading recently in Ezequiel, I found an interesting note in chapter 46 and verse 9. It reads "But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it."

God instructed the people to leave through a different gate. I thought about this some and I asked myself "why would someone choose the north gate to come into the worship area instead of the south or east gate?" The obvious answer to me was that it was closer to their house. Most often, we take the easiest route. If we have to choose between walking 15 minutes or taking a 2 minute car ride, in most cases we will opt for the car ride. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but that attitude of ease-first ought not enter into our relationship with God. Sometimes going God's way takes more time and is less convenient. But I don't think that's why God told them to take a different gate in leaving. 

Possibly they chose the gate of entry because that was the gate that was assigned to their tribe. We won't see the true needs of those around us until after we have seen God for who He is and then seen them in their true condition. Perhaps God required them to leave by a different gate so that they would have to see (personally) how the rest of the people were doing. Though it is true that we need to see the needs of those around us, I'm not sure this is the answer either. 

Perhaps it's as simple as this: God knew that they needed to leave changed and the best way He could remind them of their need to change each and every time they came into His presence was to have them leave a different way than the way they came in. I pray that you'll leave your time of worship different today and that the difference will last all day long.

No matter what road you may be walking come to Jesus today and you'll leave a different way.