Protesting

I'm not really sure what my grandson Ryan was protesting when his mother snapped this picture, but at the age of 16 months he has learned to make strange faces and unusual noises. He can make some of the most endearing faces. Sometimes I have to look away not to encourage his bahavior with my laughter. Who could resist such a sweet face?

Having a Clear Conscience

Yesterday, my wife had to appear for jury duty in Tarrant County along with what appeared to be a thousand other people. Since the weather was kind of messy, I chose to take her downtown opting to camp out in a nearby Starbucks of 7th Street. As I was driving to the Starbucks, I passed a local bar that probably is a popular spot for those "living the good life." On the bar's marquee was posted this statement, "A CLEAR CONSCIENCE IS THE FIRST SIGN OF HAVING A BAD MEMORY." For many reading that sign as they drive by or as the enter the bar's door, they might shout silently, "Amen." Because from their point of view anyone who would profess to have a clear conscience would be either a liar or someone with a really bad memory. The truth is that in my life I've done much that I'm ashamed to speak of, but I'm unashamed to confess today that I have a clear conscience - not because I've forgotten the sin which will forever be a part of my memory - but because of the grace of God. The enemy of our souls, the Devil, would love to imprison us with guilt or paralyze us with the fear but the good news of the Gospel is able to liberate us. I rejoice in the truth of Romans 8:1-6, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."
Too many have chosen to set the mind on the flesh - i.e., choosing to live in such a way that doesn't glorify God - turning their backs on the life that God desires them to experience. That's a bad trade - living for the moment instead of for the glory of God. Notice true "life and peace" comes from setting ones mind on the Spirit.

Worship Revisited

In my last post, I asked the question -- "What is worship?" I would like to revisit that that question because too often our views of worship are limited to what is done on Sunday morning in a specific time slot, and much of that may or may not be worship. For me, worship is not for my benefit. Worship is about God. I the worshipper surrendering myself before acknowledging Him. Therefore, for me worship can be private or corporate. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I believe both private and corporate worship are essential for living out my faith.

Everything we do ought to be done to bring glory and/or honor to Christ. So the simplest tasks during my day -- getting up, going to work, spending time with my wife, taking my grandchildren for a walk, playing games with friends, watching TV, listening to music, reading a book, surfing the Internet, studying the Bible, etc. -- ought to be acts of worship as I present myself as a living sacrifice each day before God. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this truth in Romans 12:1-2 saying, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

It is also true that corporate worship is important -- i.e. - the Body of Christ coming together to focus their attention upon God. In our culture today the corporate time of worship is what receives most of our emphasis as being worship. We even call it the weekly "worship service." I don't think the day of the week nor the time is the important element, but rather, that we as the worshippers come with hearts seeking God. Every part of the corporate "worship service" ought to be done as acts of our worship -- e.g. - greeting others, welcoming guests, prayer, Scripture reading, music, listening to a sermon, taking notes, confessions, repentance, sharing testimonies, communion, baptism, giving our tithes and offerings, signing a commitment card, etc. Too often, however, music is one thing singled out as the main aspect of the "worship service." Music is an important part of the corporate "worship service," but not the most important. The most important aspect of worship is God -- His presence. The tragedy is that many churches meet last Sunday and held their elaborate "worship services" filled with music and other activities but one thing was missing -- God. Everything was done to please people and the presence of God was only a footnote to their festivities.

I would rather be with a few fellow worshippers whose hearts are seeking God, and His mighty power and presence which becomes evident by the Holy Spirit's working in lives of those present.

What is worship?

I hear people all the time making comments about the “worship” of one church compared with another. Usually these comments involve a bias critique of the style or practice of what is commonly called “worship” today in one church compared with another church. These critiques whether positive or negative really reveal more about the individual’s personal preferences related to music than the genuineness of worship. For them, worship equals music. If that were true, then I’ve got a real problem—I’m not musically inclined.

So if the key component to worship is music then what hope do I have of experiencing genuine worship? Now, all you none musical types like me—don’t panic—worship is more than music. In fact, most of those who rely heavily on their music and how it makes them feel aren’t experiencing genuine worship of the living God. In fact, their music has become the “god” they worship. Most of what takes place on Sunday morning in many churches around the world is far from worship.

During his dialog with the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus reveals to her something important about worship. In verses 23 and 24, Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and now is here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

My original question still remains unanswered—“What is Worship?”

The answer to this question is very important because Jesus reveals that our heavenly Father seeks genuine worshippers.

I want to be one of those genuine worshippers. I don’t want to become like those Jesus mentions in Matthew 15:8, when he quotes a passage from the prophet Isaiah saying, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

What does worship mean to you?

Asking BIG

Have you ever noticed the magnitude of most of our prayers? Usually they are filled with small things that for the most part will work out anyway-- "give me....", "help me....," and "bless me," etc. Don't misunderstand me. We are commanded in Scripture to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but most of us rarely approach the throne of grace with a profound burden and passion for something BIG -- a God size thing that your heart desires to see happen and only God can do it.

I recently was challenged by the question, "What BIG thing are you currently asking God to do?" .... in your life? .... in your family? ....in your Church?

As I reflected on that question and its application in my life, a Bible verse came to mind. In Ephesians 3:20, 21, the Apostle Paul concludes a prayer for the Church at Ephesus saying, "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Could it be that we don't ask for BIG things because we don't really believe God will answer our prayer?

Or, maybe we've asked for something BIG once but when nothing seemingly happened according to our time schedule we throw up our hands in frustration never to ask again. Instead of that approach, we ought to be like the persistent widow in Jesus' parable found in Luke 18:1-8.