A Dead Brother, a Sad Dad, and a Betrayed Savior. Pride and Greed Trump Relationship.

Today my heart is heavy and I am personally reminded again of the brokenness of the human heart.  I am sadly experiencing first hand how sin has clouded our vision and leads us to harm our brothers, our friends, our neighbors.  It started in the Garden of Eden when Cain took the life of his brother because he was jealous.  We haven't changed much but then again if we had, I guess Jesus would've been able to stay home.


This post is going to ruffle some feathers but I'm going to let the chips fall where they may and leave you to examine my words in light of God's Word and then examine your own hearts.  I promise to do the same.


We live in a society that is increasingly feeling "entitled."  We think we deserve this and we deserve that.  It doesn't really matter where the "this" and "that" come from as long as we get it and regardless of who gets hurt.  Even our own Declaration of Independence tells us that we deserve "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Watch the news, read the paper, and if you have a lot of spare time on your hands read the budget of the United States.  I won't go into all of the specific "entitlements" but each one necessitates  the receiver receiving and some anonymous person or persons giving (either willingly or unwillingly).  Here is a good example from God's Word:


In Luke Chapter 15 Jesus tells a parable of a young man who asked his father for his share of the inheritance.  What he was saying was "Dad, I kind of wish you were dead now so I could have the money I'm entitled to but since you aren't dead yet, may I have it now?"  WOW!  How painful for the dad who gave so much of himself over so many years and when it came right down to it money trumped relationship.  


Do you know what the bible tells us we're entitled to?  Nothing.  No, I take that back.  The bible does say we deserve something - death.  How unconstitutional.  How revolting.  How true.  The bible says that we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death.  That is the very reason Jesus did leave home and come to die.  God doesn't owe us a thing. But because of his love he chooses to love us.


Oh yeah, another story just popped into my head.  There was this man named Judas who Jesus chose to be one of his closest followers.  Jesus had come from the perfection and majesty of the throne room of heaven to live, suffer, and die for mankind.  While he was alive he loved Judas and broke bread with him but Judas felt he could do a little better that just the beauty of the relationship.  "How much better?" you ask.  Thirty pieces of silver better.  I'm sure Judas hugged Jesus, told him he loved him, and acted like he cared but when the opportunity came for a little cash, Judas cashed in their relationship.  He kissed Jesus on the cheek about ten seconds before he betrayed him.  He sacrificed the love of Jesus for a little cash and when he finally looked upon his measly gain he was repulsed at what he saw in the proverbial mirror.  He then took his own life.  Sad.  He had love and eternal life and tossed it away for a few coins.


So how are we supposed to live?  I guess the answer is that we need to live a life that brings glory to God with what we have and trust in him for our provision.  We should remember that relationships are an amazing gift and money, sex, material things will come and go.  Make your choices carefully. There are a couple lives that shine and I want you to have the ability to see them first hand. They would appear to have been short changed and unable to function effectively for God or even for there own sustenance but with God all things are possible.


Meet Joni Erickson Tada who was paralyzed from the neck down in a swimming accident.


Watch Video of Joni 


Meet Nick Vujicic who was born without arms or legs


Watch Video of Nick




Examine your heart and I'll examine mine today.  What is most valuable to you?  The things of this world or love, specifically God's love but also the love and relationships of brothers and sisters in Christ?  Do we speak love with our lips when our actions reveal the coldness of our hearts?  Actions speak louder than words.  Families divided, friends divided, and a people separated from their Savior.  What do I deserve and to what am I entitled?  Hmmmm.  I thank God that he didn't give me what I deserve but had mercy on me instead.


peace,


David

Worship - It's a Heart Thing

Worship?

What is worship really?  I think we've contorted its meaning in many ways and I am equally guilty at times, so I'd like to address the idea of worship.

1)  I think it would be good to start with it's definition.

noun

- the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity

2)  I want to focus not on the "feeling" but the "expression" of reverence and adoration for a deity.  Not just any deity but the one true God.  Feelings come and go but expression is a choice.  How do we express our reverence and adoration toward God?

It's interesting that when we speak of worship in the church we often mean the musical portion of the Sunday service.  There is worship, communion, the sermon, prayer time, etc.

"Wow, worship was great today.  I loved that song by Third Day"

Worship may happen during the "praise" or during the delivery of the message but it's also possible that worship doesn't occur at either time because worship is a thing of the heart.

3)  It's also important to see the direction of worship.  It's up.  From us to HIM.  It's not about how a song made us feel, which instruments were played, or even exclusively about music at all.  It's about pouring out our love, appreciation, adoration, and hearts to God.

Let me give an example:

Imagine that your spouse, or child, best friend, or parent has been shipped overseas and you haven't seen or heard from them in 3 years.  Out of the blue a call comes in telling you to head to the airport because there is a surprise waiting.  When you get to the airport you walk to the baggage claim.  Off in the distance an unmistakable smile reaches your eyes.  Your heart pounds and when the person is within your reach you run and wrap your arms around them.  You cry tears of joy and squeeze them, not wanting to let go ever again.  You pour out words of love.

"I love you so much!  I missed you!  Please don't leave again.  You have no idea how much you mean to me!"

You lavish them with your love.  Now worship is that on steroids.

4)  You might ask, "How can it be more than that?"  The answer is in the recognition of position, that God is high and lifted up.  He is holy and awesome.  With your friend or relative the position is theoretically equal.  But worship acknowledges that it is not equal with God.  He is God and we are not.  He does indeed love us but he will not bow down to us.

5)  Worship is also about posture, not our physical posture (although it can certainly lead us to fall prostrate before him or to our knees in prayer).  It is more of a reflection of our heart's posture.  It comes out of a humble heart.  It's impossible to be prideful and boastful before God and truly worship.

Worship is what we do at work, in our kitchens as we prepare to feed our families, in our heads as we fall asleep, in our church gathering as we sing songs of praise.  I know as a member of a praise band that if someone is out of tune, if there is nasty feedback, or if someone forgets which key we are in it can be annoying and distracting but it does not affect true worship.  Satan may try really hard to get our attention and attempt to turn our focus from God to ourselves.  Let's not let him.  I have a friend who loves the Lord.  His voice is mediocre at best from a worldly standpoint but when he pours out his admiration to God in song or praise I know God smiles.  By the way, I usually don't get a microphone during worship but I know God smiles when he hears my voice even if I am flat, sharp, or two beats behind.

As we move into this next week let's remember the definition, the expression, the direction, our position, and our posture before the Lord.

Worship Him friend!!!  

Love you all,

David

Humble Pie

Have you ever had to eat humble pie?  Maybe that phrase is foreign to you so let me say it this way: 


Have you ever been forced to apologize abjectly or admit you faults in humiliating circumstances? 


The old saying is derived from an actual pie that was called "numble" or "umble" pie.  It was a pie that was made from the edible entrails of a deer.  Sure they were mixed with apples and sugar and spices but as far as I can tell it was still deer gut pie.  My guess is that if you wanted your kids to eat a slice there was a fair amount of persuasion or force involved.  


So it is often with humility.  We are a prideful people and we often display humility as willingly as we put down a slice of "umble pie".  Its no wonder the term evolved into "humble pie".  But God's word reminds us that if we carry pride it will eventually destroy us.  It is much better to willingly be humble of heart than to carry pride and be forced to eat "humble pie."  


Proverbs 16:18 puts it this way:


Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.


Haughty is defined as: having or showing great pride in oneself and disdain, contempt, or scorn for others; proud


God warns us that a spirit filled with pride is destined to fall.  Sometimes it is in this life and worse it may be paid for in the afterlife.  I think that pride is the basis for nearly all other sin.  It is was says, "I deserve this!", "I can do what I want!", "I am my own boss!", etc.  Pride is what keeps us from repentance and from receiving the loving grace of God.  "I don't need that!  I'm a good person!  I'm better than the guy next door."  


Psalm 10:4 says, "In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God."  


Pride keeps us from seeking God and from seeking life though his son Jesus Christ.


On the other hand, Jesus said, "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" and Psalm 149 says, "He crowns the humble with victory."


Take advice from a man who was filled with pride and refused to humble himself before God.  Save yourself the pain of a fall and seek God while he may be found.  There is such freedom and forgiveness in humbly coming to the cross.  Jesus said he came to save sinners.  We're all broken and have nothing to be haughty about so look truthfully at yourself, find any speck of pride and ask God to rid you of it.  I still fight with pride but the moments of humility that I find are sweet like honey because that is when I most clearly see the hand of God.


Besides, I don't think I want to eat one lousy slice of deer gut pie!


Peace friend,


David