Worthless Offerings
What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is far better than offerings.
1 Samuel 15:22 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Many times in prayer, I have asked God for several things. But, one day I started asking, if I made Him proud. Which lead to the thought of what could possibly make God happy or proud…?
Over the years, I unconsciously tried many things. I preached, taught, performed musical pieces, evangelized, and cut peoples’ grass to name a few. All of which I seemed to either tire of or received very little thanks. I think that maybe I had been submitting burnt offerings and sacrifices the whole time. I wanted to do things to please God instead of just being pleasing, that is, knowing I am His because of His son.
I took the time to look up some synonyms for obedience, that mysterious stuff that 1 Samuel 15:22 says pleases God. I found that my being obedient to God consists of submission, dutiful respect, agreement and conformity. These things are more about “being” the likeness of and indeed the action of serving.
I am still teaching, cutting grass and doing other small things. But now, I have an updated and reworked agenda for these actions. My purpose now is to serve God in the practices. I now seek to be like Him, in the serving. I no longer serve others to gain a good reputation and good standing with God. I serve God and others out of the love that He pours into me by His Holy Spirit.
Can a person tell that you are a son or daughter of God, because you are just like Him?
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
A Tambourine Shows Grace
A Tambourine Shows Grace
Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner . . .”
Ruth 2:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I had this really cool job at a musical instruments store. I loved being around all the drums, keyboards and sound gear. Musicians are a funny bunch and I wanted to be in that group. I worked for a man everyone called Uncle Rick. He was about 6’ 2” and had a full grey beard. He always wore a denim hat, matching shirt and jeans. I always wondered if he had hair under that hat. I also wondered if he had stock in Levi’s or something. He NEVER wore anything other than denim. Anyhow, I was having this conversation with a lady that was waiting for her son to finish guitar lessons. I asked her, “Do you play any instruments?”
She replied, “No, but I always wished I had played percussion. Like a tambourine. I always liked that sound.”
“Why don’t you try one?” I said.
“Oh dear, I would be so embarrassed . . .”
I placed one in her hand. She liked it.
Meanwhile, Uncle Rick was listening to our whole conversation. He walked over, took the tambourine from her hand, removed the tag and handed it back to her. Then he walked over to the cash register, paid for it and walked away. He didn’t utter a single word. The woman and I stood there silently trying to collect our thoughts, or I should say pulling our emotions together. She had tears in her eyes as she asked me how he could do that. She said, “I don’t deserve this. Why would he do this? I can’t accept this. Why did he do that?”
I told her, “It is a gift. Maybe you should just accept it.” She did not know that I too was confused. Other than one other time in my life, I did not recall being so shocked and awakened to undeserved kindness. Maybe that is how grace works? It is shocking, unexpected, undeserved and for God’s own pleasure. It’s odd how a tambourine can show grace.
Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner . . .”
Ruth 2:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
I had this really cool job at a musical instruments store. I loved being around all the drums, keyboards and sound gear. Musicians are a funny bunch and I wanted to be in that group. I worked for a man everyone called Uncle Rick. He was about 6’ 2” and had a full grey beard. He always wore a denim hat, matching shirt and jeans. I always wondered if he had hair under that hat. I also wondered if he had stock in Levi’s or something. He NEVER wore anything other than denim. Anyhow, I was having this conversation with a lady that was waiting for her son to finish guitar lessons. I asked her, “Do you play any instruments?”
She replied, “No, but I always wished I had played percussion. Like a tambourine. I always liked that sound.”
“Why don’t you try one?” I said.
“Oh dear, I would be so embarrassed . . .”
I placed one in her hand. She liked it.
Meanwhile, Uncle Rick was listening to our whole conversation. He walked over, took the tambourine from her hand, removed the tag and handed it back to her. Then he walked over to the cash register, paid for it and walked away. He didn’t utter a single word. The woman and I stood there silently trying to collect our thoughts, or I should say pulling our emotions together. She had tears in her eyes as she asked me how he could do that. She said, “I don’t deserve this. Why would he do this? I can’t accept this. Why did he do that?”
I told her, “It is a gift. Maybe you should just accept it.” She did not know that I too was confused. Other than one other time in my life, I did not recall being so shocked and awakened to undeserved kindness. Maybe that is how grace works? It is shocking, unexpected, undeserved and for God’s own pleasure. It’s odd how a tambourine can show grace.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Get Up!
Get Up!
The Lord said, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?”
Joshua 7:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Two simple words kind of say it all, Get up! Let me set the scene for you . . .
Joshua has recently taken over as leader of Israel from Moses. Joshua and the nation have an incredible win in battle over the Canaanites. Then, God calls Joshua to continue his path of taking the land God has set aside. Joshua goes to a little place called Ai (pronounced A-eye). Ai crushes the Israelites! Their response to the loss in battle is to lie on the floor all afternoon wallowing in their defeat. Basically, the Lord tells Joshua to get up and get going. We have work to do!
Often after a great loss, people can become sad, depressed and immobilized with a sense of failure. That is normal. But, we cannot stay that way. God wants us to respond to failures with speed, repentance and to move in the way He has directed. When failures hit, we are at our weakest in every way. This is the time when Satan will challenge you most. He will tell you no one loves you, you are alone, there is no way the problem can be solved, you are hopeless and helpless. But in these times, do the opposite of your feelings. Pray! Read your Bible and pray some more! God wants us to “Get Up” now! Call on him now!
Be strong and remember that after you have fallen down (and you will), get on up and know that God has not left you; He is with us till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
The Lord said, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?”
Joshua 7:10 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Two simple words kind of say it all, Get up! Let me set the scene for you . . .
Joshua has recently taken over as leader of Israel from Moses. Joshua and the nation have an incredible win in battle over the Canaanites. Then, God calls Joshua to continue his path of taking the land God has set aside. Joshua goes to a little place called Ai (pronounced A-eye). Ai crushes the Israelites! Their response to the loss in battle is to lie on the floor all afternoon wallowing in their defeat. Basically, the Lord tells Joshua to get up and get going. We have work to do!
Often after a great loss, people can become sad, depressed and immobilized with a sense of failure. That is normal. But, we cannot stay that way. God wants us to respond to failures with speed, repentance and to move in the way He has directed. When failures hit, we are at our weakest in every way. This is the time when Satan will challenge you most. He will tell you no one loves you, you are alone, there is no way the problem can be solved, you are hopeless and helpless. But in these times, do the opposite of your feelings. Pray! Read your Bible and pray some more! God wants us to “Get Up” now! Call on him now!
Be strong and remember that after you have fallen down (and you will), get on up and know that God has not left you; He is with us till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
Friday, May 7, 2010
It Takes One to Know One
It Takes One to Know One
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
Romans 2:1 New Living Translation
One thing that gives me the creeps about sin is that I can be involved in it and sometimes point the finger at others for doing the same things. Maybe this is possible because when I think of sin, I usually think big. Sin has to be extreme in its expression of greed, hate, theft, backstabbing, gossip, lust, or murder. But the truth is that sin does not need to be expansive and newsworthy; it can be subtle. So subtle in fact that I may be in the act at almost any moment and not know it. Yes, I can and do sin any time. Sometimes I sin while I am in church, at work, or even while watching television. But I know for sure that sin is creeping up on me when I am angry at others for their behavior. When I see someone else’s sin and I begin pointing it out; my anger is usually not inspired by God. My violent reaction to the sin of others is because sometimes I am guilty of it too. I can see their sin so easily because I’ve done it, or am doing it. I believe it is true when people say that it takes one to know one. As one who is well acquainted with his sins, I am keenly aware of the intricacies involved. Sometimes I see it in the way a person responds, or it is in the way they carry themselves. I can see it because I’ve done it.
How do you respond to the sins of others? Do you dispense the truth with a large measure of grace, or are you overly critical and cynical? Maybe the next time you are keenly aware of someone’s failure, also take the time to see your own. Then, when you are fully aware of your sin and you have asked for forgiveness, see to the needs of others. You know, Jesus said the same thing in regards to sin correction. He said that we should take the log out of our own eye before trying to remove a speck of sawdust from someone else’s eye. Do you think that a healthy account of your own sin will affect the way you decide to minister to others?
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
Romans 2:1 New Living Translation
One thing that gives me the creeps about sin is that I can be involved in it and sometimes point the finger at others for doing the same things. Maybe this is possible because when I think of sin, I usually think big. Sin has to be extreme in its expression of greed, hate, theft, backstabbing, gossip, lust, or murder. But the truth is that sin does not need to be expansive and newsworthy; it can be subtle. So subtle in fact that I may be in the act at almost any moment and not know it. Yes, I can and do sin any time. Sometimes I sin while I am in church, at work, or even while watching television. But I know for sure that sin is creeping up on me when I am angry at others for their behavior. When I see someone else’s sin and I begin pointing it out; my anger is usually not inspired by God. My violent reaction to the sin of others is because sometimes I am guilty of it too. I can see their sin so easily because I’ve done it, or am doing it. I believe it is true when people say that it takes one to know one. As one who is well acquainted with his sins, I am keenly aware of the intricacies involved. Sometimes I see it in the way a person responds, or it is in the way they carry themselves. I can see it because I’ve done it.
How do you respond to the sins of others? Do you dispense the truth with a large measure of grace, or are you overly critical and cynical? Maybe the next time you are keenly aware of someone’s failure, also take the time to see your own. Then, when you are fully aware of your sin and you have asked for forgiveness, see to the needs of others. You know, Jesus said the same thing in regards to sin correction. He said that we should take the log out of our own eye before trying to remove a speck of sawdust from someone else’s eye. Do you think that a healthy account of your own sin will affect the way you decide to minister to others?
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