A few days ago, I found some notes on my computer containing some words from Karen Burton Mains. Mrs. Mains wrote these well-phrased admonitions about worship in the preface of the hymnbook, Sing Joyfully:
“Worship has been defined as being preoccupied with God. How do we learn to become preoccupied with God? By cultivating intentionality. By deliberately turning our minds toward divine preoccupation. By developing worship habits and working on them. Intentional worship means a worshipper is not going to church expecting that worship will just happen; but intentionality means that a worshipper is going to church determined to make worship happen.
A church bulletin aptly (said): ‘Too many Christians worship their work, work at their play, and play at their worship.’ We must learn to work at our worship so that preoccupation with God becomes delightfully habitual.
We must remind ourselves, over and over, that the focus of Sunday worship must be upon the living Christ among us. In truth, if Christ were bodily present and we could see him with more than our soul’s eyes, all our worship would become intentional. If Christ stood on our platforms, we would bend our knees without asking. If He stretched out His hands and we saw the wounds, our hearts would break; we would confess our sins and weep over our shortcomings. If we could hear His voice leading the hymns, we too would sing heartily; the words would take on meaning. The Bible reading would be lively; meaning would pierce to the marrow of our souls.
If Christ walked our aisles, we would hasten to make amends with that brother or sister to whom we had not spoken. We would volunteer for service… If we knew Christ would attend our church Sunday after Sunday, the front pews would fill fastest, believers would arrive early, offering plates would be laden with sacrificial but gladsome gifts, prayers would concentrate our attention.
Yet … Christ is present.
I would say these are very interesting thoughts from Mrs. Maines.
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
When you think about those words, they are untrue.
We think we fool ourselves by saying them; but the truth is, words hurt.
There are words of encouragement, but when do we use them? God’s revealed word informs us to continually encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13).
Not only do words cut our heart, they influence others.
Think of all the religious names in your community. Chances are they number more than the fingers on your hand and the toes on your feet. There are too many!
All those names hurt everyone. It is a shame each group cannot throw down their name, their creed, their doctrine and abide in the doctrine of Christ.
Think about this quote from John Wesley:
“Would God that all party names and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world were forgotten and that we, as humble loving disciples, might sit down at the Master’s feet, read His Holy Word, imbibe His Spirit and transcribe His life into our own…With regard to the name Christian, I would say, there is none like it; give it to me, and in life and in death I would glorify God in this name.”
Throughout our nation, people are celebrating their freedom.
As we celebrate our country’s freedom, it is a great time to be reminded of our spiritual freedom. This freedom that Christ provides has been discussed in thousands of pulpits across the country this week.
Without the freedom in Christ, not one of us is truly free.
Sin is a trap that ensnares us for a lifetime of physical punishment bearing the wrath of eternal consequences, but the blood of the Lamb of God (John 1.29) gives us the opportunity to achieve freedom. The opportunity present, but each individual mush clothed himself/herself with the Savior (Galatians 3.27).
Today the question for Christians may not be “do we have freedom” but a greater question of “what do we do with our freedom?”
Each person can recognize freedom, but the actions one takes because of freedom truly makes the freedom appreciated. Without actions as a result of freedom, we are still spinning our wheels searching for the answer that only resides in God’s words to mankind.
Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will make you free” (John 8.32).
The truth of the Savior is the truth of the Father. The Son seeking to glorify the Father while on earth (and be glorified Himself) pray the powerful words of John 17. In the text of the beautiful prayer of John 17, Jesus said, “Sanctify them in truth; your word is truth” (John 17.17)
The Savior asked His Father (God) to sanctify them or set them apart by the truth.
Freedom is found in the words of truth; that is, the words of God.
As a Christian, you have found freedom and truth, but what are you doing with that freedom and truth today?
Are you sharing the message of breaking free from the bondage of sin to glorify your Father?
Are you sharing the message with those still ensnared by sins dreadful hold?
While we recognize freedom, let us act on that freedom and share it with the world!
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2.16; ESV)
A broken promise hurts. A broken promise can cut very deep, wounding our soul, spirit and outlook.
However, a kept promise gets us motivated to continue forward. Even knowing that a promise made by a caring, honest and promise-keeping person pushes us in the direction we need to go. It is motivation. It is a fuel to continue.
Below are Nine Bible Promises to give you some motivation to keep going forward.
Enjoy.
Nine Promises to Keep You Motivated
The Promise of a Gift— “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4.7; ESV)
The Promise of the Son — “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2.29-32; ESV)
The Promise of the Spirit — “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8.26; ESV)
The Promise of God — “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5; ESV)
The Promise of a Rainbow — “When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9.16; ESV)
The Promise of a Crown — “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4.8; ESV)
The Promise of Cleansing — “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1.7; ESV)
The Promise of Forgiveness — “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…” (Matthew 6.14; ESV)
The Promise of Heaven — “And this is the promise that he made to us–eternal life.” (1 John 2.25; ESV)
What other promises from the Bible can you remember?
What other promises from the Bible keep you motivated to press toward the prize each day?
Retirement is defined as “the action or fact of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work.” (Oxford Dictionary) Our country has an emphasis on retirement from physical work, but that should not roll over into spiritual work.
Remember, Moses led the people of Israel at 80 years of age. Caleb was still vigorous at 85 (Joshua 14.10). Also, remember Paul’s words to Titus in Titus 2.1-10. 2.
#2 – One does not need a sophisticated education to follow Jesus
Some believe one must know everything in the Bible to follow Jesus. However, the closest followers to Jesus were ordinary men.
Remember the words regarding Peter and John in Acts 4.13? Their example was not in their education, but in their influence.
#3 – Hell is optional
One of the best parts about life is the choices we can make.
Did you know that you can make a choice not to go to Hell? You can make the choice but will you follow up on your choice? Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14.6). One must be in Jesus and the way to get into Jesus is through baptism (Galatians 3.27).
#5 – Everyone can do something
Following Christ is not a time to sit back and relax, but it is a time to work. Paul says we are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2.10). At other times, Paul speaks of the abilities given to each Christian (Romans 12.3-8; Ephesians 4.11-16).
Unless you are a college
basketball fan, you probably never heard of Zion Williams until February 20,
2019. Even today, you may not know who Zion Williams is, but allow me a moment
to tell you his story.
Zion is a star basketball player
for Duke University as well as one of the best college basketball players in
the country. However, on February 20, 2019, Zion Williams fell to the court on
Duke’s first possession of their game vs. rival North Carolina. Zion’s Nike shoe fell apart. It literally had
a blowout.
As a result, Zion suffered a
sprained knee meaning he had to sit out the last five games of the regular season.
A further result of the incident saw Nike’s value fall by $1 billion dollars
and Duke lost the game to UNC as well as their #1 ranking. All because of a
blown-out shoe.
Sometimes we do not think about
the small things, like a shoe, until they cause an issue or are needed. Zion’s shoe failed. It did not fulfill its
intended purpose and as a result, caused pain and loss.
But what about your purpose? At
times, our purpose may seem small, but if we do not fulfill it, there is pain
and loss. It reminds me of Paul’s words in Ephesians 4.16,
“from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Each part of the church (the body
of Christ) has a purpose, are you fulfilling yours?
