“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
—  Luke 11:52

Thought Of The Day...
Jesus spoke pointedly and critically against the leaders of God’s people in that day. Instead of helping people draw near to God and enjoy his blessings, those leaders put up barriers through their legalistic, self-serving practices.
Sadly, throughout history, some churches and church leaders have blocked access to spiritual life for people and have even abused people. We often hear of such cases in the news today. Corrupt leaders put barriers instead of bridges in front of people. As God’s people who make up the church today, we must repent of these sins, be sure we have measures in place to prevent them from happening again, and be agents of healing to people who have been hurt.
Have you been hurt by the church or its leaders? If so, you may be hesitant to participate in the life of a church. That’s understandable.
What can you do? Here are some suggestions: (1) Keep your focus on Jesus himself, especially through prayer and Bible reading. (2) Ask God to provide a few caring Christians with whom you can fellowship and grow spiritually; they can be a helpful bridge. (3) Through a Christian counselor, seek healing and strength to forgive. (4) Remain open to a time when you can fully participate in a healthy church again.

Prayer...
Heavenly Father, We come to you in humble prayer, asking for your forgiveness. Forgive us if we have ever acted as barriers instead of bridges, closing off and dividing instead of uniting and connecting. We know that this is not the way of your teachings, and we ask for your guidance and mercy.

We also pray for healing and restoration for all those who have been hurt by the church. We know that your church is meant to be a place of love, acceptance, and grace, but we have failed to fully embody these qualities. We ask for your hand to bring healing to those who have been wounded by our words or actions. Help us to apologize and make amends where we have caused pain.

Finally, we ask that you fill us all with your love and grace. Help us to see others as you do, with compassion and understanding. May we be agents of positive change, spreading your love and unity to the world. Give us the strength and courage to be your true followers, reflecting your teachings through our every action.

We thank you for your never-ending forgiveness and for the opportunity to strive towards being bridges instead of barriers. May we continue to grow in your love and grace each day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.