Character of the Worshiper

The character of the worshiper will always be molded by the character of what he worships. 

Worship the past or life's challenges and our character will reflect anger, depression, loneliness, regret, hopelessness, etc.  We can't function today by living in the past or by life dictated by challenges or consequences.

As with emotions our circumstances are not the foundation upon which to base our lives or opinion of who God is.  

Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, "My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!” The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!  The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:17-26NLT)

Here are some lessons we can learn from Jeremiah:

1. In the midst of difficulties Jeremiah drew from truth he learned and experienced about God.  Reliance on truth rather than emotions as a result of circumstance will help see us through the difficult times.  Emotions are fickle and will always disappoint us.

2.  God knows our limits...He will never allow more than we can handle but will always be our help if we allow him to be. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

3.  No matter what happens today, there will always be a tomorrow...a fresh start.  I am so very thankful God does not give us 'left-overs' but new mercies, new grace and new hope every morning. 

4.  The best way to handle emotions that would seem to overwhelm us is to hope on him; seek him; and wait quietly for his deliverance. The attitude we take during waiting is just as important as the waiting. Waiting is a discipline that yields great rewards and a promise:  "Those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:31)

Don't hide or run from difficult circumstances, that only prolongs the outcome.  Work through them, don't use them as an excuse to stay where you are.  Sometimes seeking Gods help will come through wise Godly counsel from someone you can trust who will care and walk with you through the difficult times in your life. That person should always direct you to God not away from him nor to themselves for your help. 

Today may we be a worshiper of the God of truth not what others say or what our emotions may try to convince us is truth.  Through our worship may we be molded by his hope, strength, and wisdom.

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!  

In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure. (Isaiah 33:6 NLT)

Celebrating uniqueness

I was in a meeting recently where there was a clear distinction between different personalities and even God given gifts. From the discussion it would seem some were either trying to become like others in the room (and becoming frustrated or disappointed in their “lack of___”) or trying to get others to come into their
particular gifting (“you just need to allow the Spirit to……………”). While I believe we need to allow the Spirit to move in and through us, this too can be frustrating at times. But what happens when we don’t sense the Holy Spirit moving in a particular situation; revealing the answer for either yourself or the person asking you for help; or when we don’t hear the Holy Spirit concerning the next move we should make? All the while He seems to be doing all these in others.

While I truly believe everyone’s motives were not to duplicate themselves in that meeting but rather be an encouragement for each other to think-out-of-the-box for new possibilities, let’s face it--it can be frustrating to not see ourselves or others in a spiritual gift we want to be in.

It was very clear at this meeting that hearts were touched by the message; they believed the message, stood in awe at the results of the message yet at the same time to fulfill the message would be a complete 180 in not only thinking but ‘doing’. It would take a complete overhaul of preconceived ideas so ingrained it would
shatter their world as they knew it. It was also very clear the Holy Spirit had been working in their hearts and lives moving toward this change. This too was frustrating.

Paul said in Corinthians we are all part of the body. An arm can’t pretend or act like an eye, or an ear like a foot, yet all are important for the healthy function of the body.
“It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person” should have (1Cor 12:11)
Paul then describes the functions of the body and makes this statement, “So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other…one suffers…all suffer…one is honored…all are glad.” (I Cor 12:24-25)

I started thinking how I treat others that are different than me. Do I honor those that wouldn’t ‘do as I would do’ or who aren’t as ‘spiritually mature’ as I am (said with tongue-in-cheek)? Whichever part I am, am I working in harmony with the others?
Encouraging them in their uniqueness and different thinking? For those who are acting less honorable do I try to clothe them with love, grace and mercy or expose them for who they are?
“In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care.”

God not only gives to each of us gifts and the ability to work in those gifts, he uses our personality through which those gifts take shape. Each of us is going to be different. It is the vehicle through which the world around us sees God in action.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Prov 27:16-18)
When we stop trying to mold fit but rather encourage one another in the uniqueness and richness God has created each of us for His glory to be seen, the body of Christ will once again become healthy.
There is friction in sharpening one iron with another…let us be careful not to stab one another in the process.

Costume change

As a little girl I remember playing dress-up, being magically transformed into nurses, teachers, fairy princesses and doctors. Perhaps you became Darth Vader or a cowboy or ruler of an unseen kingdom.
Remember how the costume became the doorway into living, albeit for a short amount of time, the character by taking on the characteristics and mindset (or what we could possibly imagine it would be at that age) of a particular person? Sometimes the language would even change, especially if we were living in France or England. We spoke words with no clue of their meaning, they just sounded like it would be what that character would have sounded like.

When our children were younger they would play for hours with costume jewelry my mother-in-law had given them. They would become pirates on the open seas (amazing what a Sit ‘n Spin would transform into) or in the summertime marooned on a desert island when playing in the pool.

I must admit, there are times when the simplicity and excitement of those days would be wonderful to slip back into especially when my day is hectic or demanding.

I was thinking of this in view of the perspective Paul gives in Colossians 3:10-14.
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and forgive anyone who offends you…above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.”

Opposite of our childlike transformations, this “clothing change” becomes permanent, or at least it was designed to. This is the new nature and renewing Paul speaks about in Colossians 3. It is one-size-fits-all yet amazingly fits each one perfectly. Cannot be sold, bartered or exchanged, although we can choose to never wear or own it. Never needs washed or cleaned, yet is renewed daily within us.
What is the old costume we are to get rid of in exchange for the new?
“…sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world…get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” (Col 3:5-10)

Don’t rush through these words. God chose you…He loves you…He wants to live in and be with you. We put on this new clothing, taking on his character, by learning to know our Creator and become like him. Jesus said, “…I am in the Father and the Father is in me. All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with each of them.” (Jo 14:9-11, 23)

So how well are we who call ourselves Christ followers doing? Do we play dress-up with respect to our new life in Christ or have we really taken on and become transformed into who and what Christ represented on earth? When we walk outside our homes do others “see, hear, feel or experience” God when they encounter us? Is our language one of love, mercy, compassion, gentleness, forgiveness and humility or is it “church-anese” that only a select group of people understands? Is this change of clothing one that I wear in my home with my loved ones or does my costume change according to whom I am with or trying to impress?

As eagerly as we played dress up as a child, today may we be all the more eager to exchange our old worn out costume for the new.