Tomorrow is Halloween. As a kid I loved making my own costume and trick-or-treating on Halloween. I was a hobo, Superman, Bill Clinton, Batman and then a hobo again. It was fun to dress up and pretend to be something else. To this day if I put on a mask or a costume I like to get into that character. Like last year when I wore a warlock mask with a tuxedo; I had to create a persona for that character.
Back in Jesus' time on earth the hypocrites wore masks and took on a persona not their own. Hypocrites were actors that wore masks and played the part of someone else. Non-actors who were called hypocrites in Jesus' day (and ours) were called hypocrites because they pretended to be something they weren't. Jesus uses this idea in the book of Matthew.
"You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"
-Matthew 15:7-9
When I read this I can imagine Jesus shouting this at me. "You hypocrite! You honor me with your lips but your heart is far from me." I do this too much.
I play the part of the good Christian a lot. I put the mask on and masquerade as a devout man of God while my heart and thoughts are elsewhere. I think we all do this, which makes us hypocrites or at least at times hypocritical. Doesn't it?
I would say, "yes". This means we are hypocrites or at least hypocritical some of the time. So, what do we do?
Many encourage Christians to take off the masks and be "real". I think this is a good thing... to a point. I love authors like Donald Miller who write about "real life" and "real life" Christians. I find their honesty and candor refreshing. However, I think some of us may be taking the call to be "real" to an undesirable destination.
I see many Donald Miller disciples encourage "realness" so much that some Christians feel the need to experience a period of disobedience in order to be "real". In fact, I think some in modern Christianity may be missing the point of all this honest and candid writing and speaking from these authors and speakers.
When I read honest Christian writing I am reminded that Jesus take us just as we are. Like the old hymn says, "Just as I am." This is absolutely true. But brothers and sisters don't miss this: Jesus loves you way too much to let you stay just as you are. The Holy Spirit's impact in your life is so powerful that you can't stay just as you are nor should you want to stay that way. Christ takes us just as we are and makes us just as He is. He will make you Christlike... guaranteed.
"He who began a good work in you will cary it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Friends let's accept and embrace one another just as we are. Let's not encourage hypocrisy. But let's: "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another all the more as you see the Day approaching."-Hebrews 10:24-25
Don't be a hypocrite because you don't have to be in the body of Christ. Encourage each other to be open, honest and grow in the faith today.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Escapism and Being Heavenly
My small group is in the middle of going through a study called "Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church" by N. T. Wright. This study, along with other things I've been reading, has been challenging my thoughts on escapism and being heavenly.
When my Grandma Ray died my cousins and I got to sing "I'll Fly Away" at her funeral. I love that song. I love thinking about leaving this world and flying away to heaven and unless Jesus comes back before I die that is exactly what I will do. But is that my hope; flying away from here?
I've been challenged to abandon my desire for escapism. What's been challenging me to do this is the Word of God. The Bible is full of calls to live for God not leave to God. Jesus prayed, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Jesus' desire was that Earth become like Heaven.
Why?
When I read the creation story in Genesis I see God making a first rate product. Throughout the story He says His creation is good; and good is a big word for God because we read elsewhere that no one is good but God. In fact, when God is finished making mankind He still says that all of creation is good.
One of God's desires now is to make all things new. If I had a '65 Shelby Mustang that was beaten to death and I wanted to make it new I would not go and buy a new 2013 Mustang. No, I would restore that '65 Mustang to what it looked like when it rolled off the assembly line in Michigan. That is how God makes things new. He is going to restore the Earth, at all costs, back to what it was like in Genesis chapter 1. He will make it like new.
Now, knowing that God's desire is to restore the earth wouldn't it be a slap in His face to hold up a belief and a hope in leaving earth with absolutely no desire to come back? Yes. In fact in Revelation we see a multitude of saints who are excited to come back to earth with their victorious King Jesus. Heaven will come down to earth in the last days. "Now the dwelling of God is with men..." Revelation 21:3. Note it doesn't say the dwelling place of man is with God. God will come down to rule Earth. Heaven and Earth will be one!
Right now Heaven and Earth aren't one but the process of melding the two has already begun and its beginning was at the cross.
In the Old Testament the Jewish understanding was that Heaven and Earth intersected at one point: the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The Holy of Holies had the Ark in it and was separated from the rest of the Temple by a four foot thick curtain. Once a year one priest went into the Holy of Holies. When he went in he had a rope tied around his waist so that if he dropped over dead in God's presence the other priests could pull him out. The Holy of Holies was the only intersection of Heaven and Earth in this theology.
Then came the cross. While Jesus was on the cross an earthquake came and tore that four foot thick curtain in two from top to bottom. Heaven had begun to burst into Earth. More than that, Christians are now the Holy of Holies. The Holy Spirit lives in us. Paul says we are the Temple. We are the intersection of Heaven and Earth. Since we have the Holy of Holies in us we have a job to do. We must be heavenly. We must participate in Heaven bursting into Earth. It will not be complete until King Jesus comes back to Earth, but we are heavily involved in God's plan now.
Heaven and Earth are becoming one now through the Holy Spirit living in us. How awesome is that! So, let's not spend the majority of our time wanting to get the hell out of here; rather let's spend our time getting the Heaven in here.
Pray "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Be heavenly today.
When my Grandma Ray died my cousins and I got to sing "I'll Fly Away" at her funeral. I love that song. I love thinking about leaving this world and flying away to heaven and unless Jesus comes back before I die that is exactly what I will do. But is that my hope; flying away from here?
I've been challenged to abandon my desire for escapism. What's been challenging me to do this is the Word of God. The Bible is full of calls to live for God not leave to God. Jesus prayed, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Jesus' desire was that Earth become like Heaven.
Why?
When I read the creation story in Genesis I see God making a first rate product. Throughout the story He says His creation is good; and good is a big word for God because we read elsewhere that no one is good but God. In fact, when God is finished making mankind He still says that all of creation is good.
One of God's desires now is to make all things new. If I had a '65 Shelby Mustang that was beaten to death and I wanted to make it new I would not go and buy a new 2013 Mustang. No, I would restore that '65 Mustang to what it looked like when it rolled off the assembly line in Michigan. That is how God makes things new. He is going to restore the Earth, at all costs, back to what it was like in Genesis chapter 1. He will make it like new.
Now, knowing that God's desire is to restore the earth wouldn't it be a slap in His face to hold up a belief and a hope in leaving earth with absolutely no desire to come back? Yes. In fact in Revelation we see a multitude of saints who are excited to come back to earth with their victorious King Jesus. Heaven will come down to earth in the last days. "Now the dwelling of God is with men..." Revelation 21:3. Note it doesn't say the dwelling place of man is with God. God will come down to rule Earth. Heaven and Earth will be one!
Right now Heaven and Earth aren't one but the process of melding the two has already begun and its beginning was at the cross.
In the Old Testament the Jewish understanding was that Heaven and Earth intersected at one point: the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The Holy of Holies had the Ark in it and was separated from the rest of the Temple by a four foot thick curtain. Once a year one priest went into the Holy of Holies. When he went in he had a rope tied around his waist so that if he dropped over dead in God's presence the other priests could pull him out. The Holy of Holies was the only intersection of Heaven and Earth in this theology.
Then came the cross. While Jesus was on the cross an earthquake came and tore that four foot thick curtain in two from top to bottom. Heaven had begun to burst into Earth. More than that, Christians are now the Holy of Holies. The Holy Spirit lives in us. Paul says we are the Temple. We are the intersection of Heaven and Earth. Since we have the Holy of Holies in us we have a job to do. We must be heavenly. We must participate in Heaven bursting into Earth. It will not be complete until King Jesus comes back to Earth, but we are heavily involved in God's plan now.
Heaven and Earth are becoming one now through the Holy Spirit living in us. How awesome is that! So, let's not spend the majority of our time wanting to get the hell out of here; rather let's spend our time getting the Heaven in here.
Pray "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Be heavenly today.
Monday, October 8, 2012
John 10- The Good Shepherd
I just got done studying John chapter 10 with a group of great, young guys. It's energizing to see their love of God's Word. It's also energizing to see all the amazing truth packed into John chapter 10.
Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. I can't go into all of the awesome details about the Good Shepherd that's packed in here but I will write about a couple of awesome things that are revealed in this chapter.
In verses 1-6 Jesus gives an analogy featuring sheep and a shepherd. The sheep and shepherd in this analogy are in a village. In the village are many sheep, some belonging to the shepherd and some not. If you can picture this in your head you might see a very chaotic scene. Let's imagine that several shepherds and their sheep are moving about this tiny village at the same time. How on earth do the sheep know where to go and who to follow?
"He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow because they know His voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Verses 3-6
Do you recognize the Good Shepherd's voice? Do you run away from other voices trying to lead you astray?
In verses 7-10 Jesus shifts the sheep and shepherd from the village to the countryside. Here He calls the shepherd the gate. In those days the place where the sheep were kept was closed off but they didn't use gates like we do today. Instead, the shepherd would lie down at the open space in the pin and act as the gate. Nothing got in or out except through him.
"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." Verse 9.
Jesus is the way, the only way. Do you acknowledge that?
Finally, in verses 14-18 Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd. He says that He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. Beyond that He lays down His life for the sheep. In fact, Jesus will lay down His life for sheep that aren't yet in His sheep pin. Meaning, He intended to add Gentiles to the flock... and He did. Meaning, He still intends to add sheep to the flock... and He will. That is why He says He gave up His life. So that through Him there might be "one flock and one shepherd."
His death was for you. Are you being called into His pin?
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He calls you and I to Him by name. Amen. He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. Amen. He laid down His life for us. Amen.
If you want to read more about how Jesus is our shepherd read passages like Psalm 23 or Ezekiel 34. Thank God for giving us the Good Shepherd today.
Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. I can't go into all of the awesome details about the Good Shepherd that's packed in here but I will write about a couple of awesome things that are revealed in this chapter.
In verses 1-6 Jesus gives an analogy featuring sheep and a shepherd. The sheep and shepherd in this analogy are in a village. In the village are many sheep, some belonging to the shepherd and some not. If you can picture this in your head you might see a very chaotic scene. Let's imagine that several shepherds and their sheep are moving about this tiny village at the same time. How on earth do the sheep know where to go and who to follow?
"He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow because they know His voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Verses 3-6
Do you recognize the Good Shepherd's voice? Do you run away from other voices trying to lead you astray?
In verses 7-10 Jesus shifts the sheep and shepherd from the village to the countryside. Here He calls the shepherd the gate. In those days the place where the sheep were kept was closed off but they didn't use gates like we do today. Instead, the shepherd would lie down at the open space in the pin and act as the gate. Nothing got in or out except through him.
"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." Verse 9.
Jesus is the way, the only way. Do you acknowledge that?
Finally, in verses 14-18 Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd. He says that He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. Beyond that He lays down His life for the sheep. In fact, Jesus will lay down His life for sheep that aren't yet in His sheep pin. Meaning, He intended to add Gentiles to the flock... and He did. Meaning, He still intends to add sheep to the flock... and He will. That is why He says He gave up His life. So that through Him there might be "one flock and one shepherd."
His death was for you. Are you being called into His pin?
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He calls you and I to Him by name. Amen. He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. Amen. He laid down His life for us. Amen.
If you want to read more about how Jesus is our shepherd read passages like Psalm 23 or Ezekiel 34. Thank God for giving us the Good Shepherd today.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Going to Work with Dad
A short story:
Today Tommy woke up excited. Today he didn't have to go to school.
But that wasn't why he was excited.
Today Tommy woke up excited because he got to go to work with his dad.
Tommy's dad called the school secretary on Monday to tell her that Tommy would not be in class with Mrs. Meiers on Friday. And today is Friday and Tommy is excited.
Tommy woke up excited and sprang out of bed. Without his mother's nagging he shot up and went straight to the bathroom to shower. After showering he brushed his teeth, without being begged to do it. After brushing his teeth, Tommy put on his work clothes including the jeans with the carpenter's hook for his hammer. Tommy was ready and excited to go to work.
When Tommy's dad got to the front door to leave he didn't have to yell for Tommy because Tommy was there with his shoes on and half a Pop Tart in his hand and the other half in his mouth. Tommy was ready and excited to go to work.
So, Tommy and his dad walked out to the driveway where Tommy's dad's big F-250 truck awaited. Tommy climbed into the passenger side which was no easy task for a young guy Tommy's size. Tommy then quickly put on his seat belt and sat ready and excited to go work.
As Tommy and his dad drove to the worksite, Tommy looked out his window down at the little Prius and Civic next to them at the red light stop. Tommy felt like a big man on his way to work.
Once they reached the worksite Tommy and his dad got out of the truck. Tommy was ready and excited to work. They went straight to work and Tommy's dad handed him a hammer, which Tommy promptly slid into the carpenter's hook in his jeans. It was finally time for Tommy to do some real carpentry work.
Tommy's dad started several nails into the board and said, "Alright, I need you to finish hammering these nails into the board. This is a very important job."
Tommy pulled his hammer out of his carpenter's hook in his jeans and approached the first nail.
"Clap" "Whack" "Clunk" "Whack" "Clap" "Dunk" "Dunk" "Dunk" "Whack" "Dink" "Whack"
Tommy's hammer hit the board just as many times as it hit the head of the nail and when it did hit the nail the nail bent to the side and Tommy had to straighten it and whack it again. The board had little hammer halos surrounding the nail Tommy had just driven into it.
"Good work, buddy!" said Tommy's dad as he continued to keep a close eye on Tommy.
Tommy beamed. He was ready and excited to keep working with dad. And guess what? Tommy's dad let him work with him all day. And even as Tommy worked he was ready and excited to work with his dad again on another day.
Could Tommy's dad have gotten the work done faster without Tommy? Did he need Tommy's help to get the job done?
We all know the answers to those questions, but to Tommy it doesn't matter because he got to go to work with his dad.
It's the same way with us and God. He allows us to go to work with Him even though He could do it faster and better and even though He doesn't need us to get the job done. The question is, are you ready and excited to go to work with Dad?
Be ready and excited to go to work with Dad today.
Today Tommy woke up excited. Today he didn't have to go to school.
But that wasn't why he was excited.
Today Tommy woke up excited because he got to go to work with his dad.
Tommy's dad called the school secretary on Monday to tell her that Tommy would not be in class with Mrs. Meiers on Friday. And today is Friday and Tommy is excited.
Tommy woke up excited and sprang out of bed. Without his mother's nagging he shot up and went straight to the bathroom to shower. After showering he brushed his teeth, without being begged to do it. After brushing his teeth, Tommy put on his work clothes including the jeans with the carpenter's hook for his hammer. Tommy was ready and excited to go to work.
When Tommy's dad got to the front door to leave he didn't have to yell for Tommy because Tommy was there with his shoes on and half a Pop Tart in his hand and the other half in his mouth. Tommy was ready and excited to go to work.
So, Tommy and his dad walked out to the driveway where Tommy's dad's big F-250 truck awaited. Tommy climbed into the passenger side which was no easy task for a young guy Tommy's size. Tommy then quickly put on his seat belt and sat ready and excited to go work.
As Tommy and his dad drove to the worksite, Tommy looked out his window down at the little Prius and Civic next to them at the red light stop. Tommy felt like a big man on his way to work.
Once they reached the worksite Tommy and his dad got out of the truck. Tommy was ready and excited to work. They went straight to work and Tommy's dad handed him a hammer, which Tommy promptly slid into the carpenter's hook in his jeans. It was finally time for Tommy to do some real carpentry work.
Tommy's dad started several nails into the board and said, "Alright, I need you to finish hammering these nails into the board. This is a very important job."
Tommy pulled his hammer out of his carpenter's hook in his jeans and approached the first nail.
"Clap" "Whack" "Clunk" "Whack" "Clap" "Dunk" "Dunk" "Dunk" "Whack" "Dink" "Whack"
Tommy's hammer hit the board just as many times as it hit the head of the nail and when it did hit the nail the nail bent to the side and Tommy had to straighten it and whack it again. The board had little hammer halos surrounding the nail Tommy had just driven into it.
"Good work, buddy!" said Tommy's dad as he continued to keep a close eye on Tommy.
Tommy beamed. He was ready and excited to keep working with dad. And guess what? Tommy's dad let him work with him all day. And even as Tommy worked he was ready and excited to work with his dad again on another day.
Could Tommy's dad have gotten the work done faster without Tommy? Did he need Tommy's help to get the job done?
We all know the answers to those questions, but to Tommy it doesn't matter because he got to go to work with his dad.
It's the same way with us and God. He allows us to go to work with Him even though He could do it faster and better and even though He doesn't need us to get the job done. The question is, are you ready and excited to go to work with Dad?
Be ready and excited to go to work with Dad today.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Answered Prayer and Pillows (A.K.A. Why I Love My Church)
I know many of you reading this blog do not go to my church, Grace Baptist in Waverly, IA. That being said I want to brag on my church and tell you about how God answers prayers.
I'll start the story from the beginning.
My small group has just started going through a study by N. T. Wright called "Surprised by Hope". Last week was our first week of the study and I'll already say that I highly recommend it. Anyway, at the end of the first session we were asked to pray the following things: "Pray for eyes to see the needs of the community around you. Pray for your local church to become a beacon of hope in your community."
We specifically talked about how our community has greater needs than we first think. As an example I began to describe the needs at Cedar Valley Friends of the Family www.cvfriendsofthefamily.org. So, we prayed that our group would have a concrete way to be a beacon of hope for an organization like Cedar Valley Friends of the Family.
That prayer brings us to this morning.
This morning in the announcements at church that specific prayer was answered. Pastor Brian said that Grace was pledging to provide pillows for Cedar Valley Friends of the Family (an organization I can't ever remember us giving to). In the bulletin was a perforated sheet that could be filled out to pledge to give a pillow. When that announcement was made I heard a cascade of tearing as people tore out the sheets to pledge a pillow. It was awesome and immediate. I almost teared up. It was a fantastic reminder of one of the reasons I love my church. People are people and differences will exist and frustrations will be expressed from time to time; but boy do they love.
This morning was great. I had God respond to my prayer request quickly and clearly; and on top of that He reminded me again of the loving brothers and sisters He surrounded me with. Sorry Pastor Jim, but that is the good news I heard this morning and that good news was proclaimed loudly in a cascade of tearing bulletins.
Now if you are a part of Grace and you missed this morning you still have the opportunity to give. Bring a new pillow to church Sunday or before Sunday I guess. We, as a church, have pledged to give twenty pillows but we are going to blow that number out of the water. If you have any questions call the church 352-1464. If you are not a part of Grace I'd encourage you to remember why you joined your community of believers. I can tell you that it's so good to remember the blessing God gave us when He gives us a community of brothers and sisters.
God answers prayers. Amen! God puts the lonely in families. Amen! Thank God for His many blessings and for the community of believers He has given you today.
I'll start the story from the beginning.
My small group has just started going through a study by N. T. Wright called "Surprised by Hope". Last week was our first week of the study and I'll already say that I highly recommend it. Anyway, at the end of the first session we were asked to pray the following things: "Pray for eyes to see the needs of the community around you. Pray for your local church to become a beacon of hope in your community."
We specifically talked about how our community has greater needs than we first think. As an example I began to describe the needs at Cedar Valley Friends of the Family www.cvfriendsofthefamily.org. So, we prayed that our group would have a concrete way to be a beacon of hope for an organization like Cedar Valley Friends of the Family.
That prayer brings us to this morning.
This morning in the announcements at church that specific prayer was answered. Pastor Brian said that Grace was pledging to provide pillows for Cedar Valley Friends of the Family (an organization I can't ever remember us giving to). In the bulletin was a perforated sheet that could be filled out to pledge to give a pillow. When that announcement was made I heard a cascade of tearing as people tore out the sheets to pledge a pillow. It was awesome and immediate. I almost teared up. It was a fantastic reminder of one of the reasons I love my church. People are people and differences will exist and frustrations will be expressed from time to time; but boy do they love.
This morning was great. I had God respond to my prayer request quickly and clearly; and on top of that He reminded me again of the loving brothers and sisters He surrounded me with. Sorry Pastor Jim, but that is the good news I heard this morning and that good news was proclaimed loudly in a cascade of tearing bulletins.
Now if you are a part of Grace and you missed this morning you still have the opportunity to give. Bring a new pillow to church Sunday or before Sunday I guess. We, as a church, have pledged to give twenty pillows but we are going to blow that number out of the water. If you have any questions call the church 352-1464. If you are not a part of Grace I'd encourage you to remember why you joined your community of believers. I can tell you that it's so good to remember the blessing God gave us when He gives us a community of brothers and sisters.
God answers prayers. Amen! God puts the lonely in families. Amen! Thank God for His many blessings and for the community of believers He has given you today.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Jesus the Thirst Quencher
Everyone remembers that Gatorade's tagline used to be "the thirst quencher." In John 7:37-38 Jesus claims to be the thirst quencher.
"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." John 7:37-38
I've always thought that this was a neat passage, but I never saw the significance until I took a deeper look at what the Feast was and what Jesus was claiming to be. Hopefully you'll be as amazed as I was after I explain it.
The Feast in this passage is the Feast of Tabernacles (which is briefly explained in Leviticus 23:33). On each day of the feast there was a procession of priests to the pool of Siloam to draw water. The priests then would return to the temple, where the water was taken in procession once around the altar with the choir singing Psalms 113-118, and then the water was poured out as a libation at the morning sacrifice. All day and all night celebration surrounded this ceremony. The celebration was associated with Isaiah 12:3 "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."
Jesus came to the Feast "on the last and greatest day of the Feast." On the last day the same procedure was followed except the procession circled the altar seven times instead just once. The last day of this ceremony reached a fever pitch of excitement.
It was during this awesome celebration that Jesus shouted "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." Jesus was claiming to be able to offer people the water of salvation. In fact, Jesus was saying even more than that. Ezekiel 47 talks about a deep and wide river that flowed out of the temple that cause trees to provide food and healing leaves. Revelation 22 describes the River of Life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. This tree also provides healing leaves for the nations and food.
Jesus, as He stands in the Temple, is claiming to be the source of the River of Life. Jesus is making a bold, bold claim. And, get this, because of His bold claim we can boldly claim the promise of sustenance, healing and salvation that His claim provides.
How awesome is this passage! Go to Jesus and drink today.
"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." John 7:37-38
I've always thought that this was a neat passage, but I never saw the significance until I took a deeper look at what the Feast was and what Jesus was claiming to be. Hopefully you'll be as amazed as I was after I explain it.
The Feast in this passage is the Feast of Tabernacles (which is briefly explained in Leviticus 23:33). On each day of the feast there was a procession of priests to the pool of Siloam to draw water. The priests then would return to the temple, where the water was taken in procession once around the altar with the choir singing Psalms 113-118, and then the water was poured out as a libation at the morning sacrifice. All day and all night celebration surrounded this ceremony. The celebration was associated with Isaiah 12:3 "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."
Jesus came to the Feast "on the last and greatest day of the Feast." On the last day the same procedure was followed except the procession circled the altar seven times instead just once. The last day of this ceremony reached a fever pitch of excitement.
It was during this awesome celebration that Jesus shouted "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." Jesus was claiming to be able to offer people the water of salvation. In fact, Jesus was saying even more than that. Ezekiel 47 talks about a deep and wide river that flowed out of the temple that cause trees to provide food and healing leaves. Revelation 22 describes the River of Life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. This tree also provides healing leaves for the nations and food.
Jesus, as He stands in the Temple, is claiming to be the source of the River of Life. Jesus is making a bold, bold claim. And, get this, because of His bold claim we can boldly claim the promise of sustenance, healing and salvation that His claim provides.
How awesome is this passage! Go to Jesus and drink today.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
What is Worship?
This morning in discussion with some guys the question was raised, "What is worship?" This question is central to the Christian life because we were created to worship. Let me first show one passage that tells us that we are created or at least chosen to worship.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."
1 Peter 2:9
Christians were chosen by God to worship Him. We were chosen that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. To further this point let me share with you a catechism of our faith. In the Westminister Shorter Catechism the first point is this:
Q: "What is the chief end of man?"
A: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."
So, we were chosen to worship God. Therefore, true worship requires that we be born again. As 1 Peter says, "that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." We must be called out of the darkness into the light because otherwise we are unable to see God. To be in the darkness is to not correctly see God.
But we are still left with the question, "What is worship?"
Here is what worship isn't. It isn't only something done once a week in a pew. It isn't only trying to make ourselves worthy of the calling. A. W. Tozer put it well when he said, "We please Him (God) most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms with all our imperfections and believing that He understands everything... and loves us still."
Here is what I think worship is: Worship is anything that demonstrates what one values or desires.
Given that definition we need to make sure that we are worshipping God. A lot of what I do demonstrates that I value and desire myself or money or people. How much of what I do demonstrates that I value and desire God?
We are left with another question. "Why do we worship God?" "Does He need it?"
First, let me say that God absolutely, without question, does NOT need our worship. Why then does He ask for it? He asks for it because we benefit from worshipping Him. We were created and chosen to worship Him. We are fulfilled by fulfilling our purpose. We need to worship God; He doesn't need us to worship Him.
Secondly, we worship God for our own good. We humans were designed to appreciate greatness. Why else would we drive to the Grand Canyon to look at it? Does the Grand Canyon need us to look at it in awesome wonder? No; rather our spirit longs to be wowed. God can wow our spirit in ways the Grand Canyon never could. A. W. Tozer said, "The blessed and inviting truth is that God is the most winsome of all beings, and in our worship of Him, we should find unspeakable pleasure."
Worship is not just singing. It should be everything we do and we should be thrilled in doing it. Again, worship is anything that demonstrates what one values or desires. Does your life demonstrate that you value and desire God? Are you thrilled in Him?
Worship God in spirit and in truth today.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."
1 Peter 2:9
Christians were chosen by God to worship Him. We were chosen that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. To further this point let me share with you a catechism of our faith. In the Westminister Shorter Catechism the first point is this:
Q: "What is the chief end of man?"
A: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."
So, we were chosen to worship God. Therefore, true worship requires that we be born again. As 1 Peter says, "that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." We must be called out of the darkness into the light because otherwise we are unable to see God. To be in the darkness is to not correctly see God.
But we are still left with the question, "What is worship?"
Here is what worship isn't. It isn't only something done once a week in a pew. It isn't only trying to make ourselves worthy of the calling. A. W. Tozer put it well when he said, "We please Him (God) most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms with all our imperfections and believing that He understands everything... and loves us still."
Here is what I think worship is: Worship is anything that demonstrates what one values or desires.
Given that definition we need to make sure that we are worshipping God. A lot of what I do demonstrates that I value and desire myself or money or people. How much of what I do demonstrates that I value and desire God?
We are left with another question. "Why do we worship God?" "Does He need it?"
First, let me say that God absolutely, without question, does NOT need our worship. Why then does He ask for it? He asks for it because we benefit from worshipping Him. We were created and chosen to worship Him. We are fulfilled by fulfilling our purpose. We need to worship God; He doesn't need us to worship Him.
Secondly, we worship God for our own good. We humans were designed to appreciate greatness. Why else would we drive to the Grand Canyon to look at it? Does the Grand Canyon need us to look at it in awesome wonder? No; rather our spirit longs to be wowed. God can wow our spirit in ways the Grand Canyon never could. A. W. Tozer said, "The blessed and inviting truth is that God is the most winsome of all beings, and in our worship of Him, we should find unspeakable pleasure."
Worship is not just singing. It should be everything we do and we should be thrilled in doing it. Again, worship is anything that demonstrates what one values or desires. Does your life demonstrate that you value and desire God? Are you thrilled in Him?
Worship God in spirit and in truth today.
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