Where God lives.

"The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the world of the LORD, all you people of Judah, you that enter these gates to worship the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place..."

(Jeremiah 7:1-3)

God has a special place in his heart for the last, the lost, and the least. So whenever we take advantage of any of them (or their health care)... whenever we assert our power & authority & privilege over them (or fail to render aid when we ca)... whenever we "pad our coffers" at the sake of reaching out to those in need, we break God's heart.

The Bible is filled with calls to offer compassion, mercy, love, and justice to those in need. Especially those on the edges of society. The Hebrew Scriptures often speak about the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the foreigner. This was one of Jeremiah's central messages. In chapter 7, his call to return to doing things the way the LORD desires was directed to those of us within the community of faith. We, who are supposed to be about bringing God's Kingdom on earth, are sometimes the worst proponents. We get so caught up in "building up" our churches, that we forget God calls us to give ourselves away for others.

Here in Jeremiah 7, God reminds His people that just because they come to church (the Temple), doesn't mean God will bless whatever they do. In fact, don't presume that God is even present with them in church - UNLESS they change their actions and begin living the way God intends.

Yes, the world is often a messed-up place. Granted. But we in the church are called to BE DIFFERENT -- Kingdom-centered! To respond to the hurting world around us with justice, compassion, and mercy. To think of others before thinking about ourselves. To give ourselves away in love, like Jesus did.

So maybe we shouldn't be looking for God "in church." We need to be looking for God in they eyes of those in need around us.