Meeting God in the
House of God

Genesis 35:6-7 (KJV)
"So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother."

You recall the story about Dinah, the daughter of Leah, being defiled by Hamor, the Shechemite. He loved Dinah deeply and wanted to marry her. Her father Jacob made an agreement with Hamor's father that the marriage would take place, but Simeon and Levi wanted their sister's honor avenged. The men of Shechem had to undergo that painful rite of circumcision, and so they got conquered by the Israelites at their weakest moment. Due to this awful massacre, Jacob and his family had to flee to Bethel (the house of God). Before journeying there, the house had to be cleansed, that is, the false gods from Laban had to go. When they arrived to Luz, Jacob knew that the place was holy ground. He built an altar there on the spot to thank God for their deliverance from their enemies. The place was called "El-bethel" (the God of the house of God).

To ready ourselves to enter the house of God, did we repent of our sins and rid ourselves of our personal idols? Anything that we place above loving God with all of our hearts is an idol. When we actually enter church, do we enter in a reverential fashion? Remember, we are going to worship the God of the house of God. Be respectful for your soul's sake.