Many who talk much say little.

Taking a closer look….

What is Worship?

Matthew 5:8-9

 ”These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain. Their teaching are but rules taught by men.”

1. What is true worship?
2. When does it occur?
3. Is it spontaneous?
4. Is it planned?
5. How can you tell if it is fake or real?
6. What are some “self-checks” in order to make sure we are not “worshipping with our mouths, but our hearts are far from God?”

 

Step Into the Fire – Part 4

Last week, I made a list of truths and fires to study. The first truth, I think, is that there is a God. One God.

It amazes me as I step out into our culture, how more and more people actually don’t believe in any god….and if they do….there’s a “variety” to choose from.

1 Corinthians 8:6 says,

⁶yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

We went for a trip to the Natural History Museum in D.C. recently. While there was a lot to see, the part that has stuck with me the longest, is how prevalent evolution was in that museum, and how permanently displayed. There was a individual theatre devoted to Evolution. In almost every display, from fossils to jellyfish to plants and insects, billions of years was assumed and thus stated.

There were no suggestions that it was a theory.

There were no mentions of any other possible views.

It was taken for granted, that if you believe in science, you believe in evolution. It was presented as fact.

Yet, we know this not to be true. Genesis 1 describes creation. We know that no one knows the very beginning, before time beginning. We know that there are missing pieces and information that evolution is still seeking.

But why is it presented as fact?!

Fire #1 – Evolution is fact. The earth is billions of years old. God did not create the world. If you question this you are ignorant and unscientific.

Truth #1 - Creation displays a Creator. The earth is not billions of years old. There are many scientific people who believe in Creation or Intelligent Design.

The prevalence of evolution being taken for granted by the general public appalls me. It surprises me. It humbles me.

I see that this is one fire I can watch out for and work to “put out.”

• I can let people know, in common conversations, when evolution is referenced, that there are people out there who don’t take it for granted.
• I can study and research more on this topic, so that I am more equipped for the right answer.
• I can pray for those in schools and leadership, that they would stand for the truth.
• I can make every effort to teach in accordance to God’s word.
• I can show kids there is evidence in nature.
• I can make good books available on the subject in the church library.

Do you have any other ideas or real experience?

For verses about God in creation, see here.

For some interesting websites, check out these links:

• Answers in Genesis 
• Institute of Creation Research
• eXpelled DVD

Note to Self

Note to Self:

Don’t try to be a leader until you can learn to follow.

“Spiritual  food mus be digested as well as injested.”

Have I allowed time to meditate on God’s word, or do I rush through, trying to get as much in me as I can?

Grace is perhaps something like a rainbow. Grace is the light that comes from heaven, and we are the colors reflected…each one different….each one reflecting God…individual….but altogether we make a whole rainbow. God’s grace touches our hearts and reflects out in our lives. When we come together as a church body, we truly can show the splendor of our awesome Creator.

 

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Step Into the Fire – Part 3

It’s time for a 3rd question, in our Step Into the Fire series. (If you’d like to catch up on the first couple posts, check Part 1 here and Part 2 here)

Question for today:

3. Did they [Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednigo] stand out from the crowd?

 Last week, I realized that these 3 men weren’t out there looking for fires. They were simply obeying God daily. I realized it was time for me to slow down, and wait for God’s timing on things, instead of trying to look for fires on my own.

But that’s the cool thing. Just as it is important to wait on God, it is as important to stand for the truth when the time comes!

^{Daniel 3:4} Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: ⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ⁶ Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

S, M, & A knew what the consequences were before them, if they chose to be different from the crowd. Don’t you think they could’ve thought,

 I can bow my head, as long as I imagine it is God I am bowing too and not this idol. I will think about Him as I kneel, and I will know the difference, but then I won’t have to stand out  in this crowd either. They won’t care anyway, and God knows my heart and good intentions.”

But God tells us not to bow or bend or vow or worship any other God but Him. He doesn’t even want a pretense of anything else. He is the truth. Thisis a truth. And it is worth standing up for.

Imagine how it must have looked….. at the raucous sound of timbrels and stringed instruments, drums and flutes, the people start bowing. It starts in the front, where they hear the music first, and proceeds like the “Wave” back across the ground. As people fall to the ground, it’s easy to pick out the solitary figures, standing like statues themselves, in a field of backs and bottoms. I would’ve been scared stiff. My hands would’ve been trembling and my eardrums ringing with pressure as I realized how conspicuous I was.

But they stood out from the crowd. Literally. No compromise. No half-hearted attempt. No shuffling feet or nodding heads or uplifted arms. Solid. Truth-seekers. God-fearers. Crowd -defiers. And they were called on it.

I think an important lesson here is the truth that they stood for. They knew it. They knew God upheld it. They knew it was right. Just as this truth (There is One God) is the pivot point for Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednigo, I believe there are solid truths for us to stand up for today too. One, of course, is the same in this story : There is One God. Don’t compromise this truth! Don’t get vague when talking about other religions and beliefs. Don’t “sit down” when someone or some movie or some book mentions another idol. Don’t go looking for arguments, but when a time does come, don’t back down. In a gentle and loving manner, with strength, stand up for the truth!

Next week we’ll start looking at some “fires” that lick around our heels. Here are some I’d like to look at, what are some you are thinking about?

1. Truth (in general)
2. Prayer
3. Modesty
4. Speech
5. Entertainment
6. Creation
7. Homesexuality
8. Divorce
9. Living together
10. Relationships

Grace

The Divine influence on the heart and its practical reflection in life.

Little Pitchers have Big Ears

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise”

Ephesians 5:15

Step Into the Fire – Part 2

Last week, I started asking myself questions about how am I really living my life. And it’s turning into a series of posts, about Stepping Into the Fire.

And so, I thought I’d better start with the Bible text. You’ll find it in Daniel 3. Please, open your Bible and read along.

 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

My question for today is:

2. Did they [Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednigo] go looking for fire?

It suprised me, at first, to think about this. Because, in fact they DIDN’T go looking for “trouble” (fire). They weren’t out there trying to pick a fight or even to get in a religious debate with anyone. They were simply living their lives in reverence to God…..and then they were called….with everyone else…..before the king.

I think they were being obedient to God, and then they were tested. And….because of their daily walk in obedience and reverence, they were ready for the trial. They knew what was right, and when the critical point came, the way was clear. Now, before I get ahead of myself, I think I need to re-think my attitude.

Last week, I was all fired-up to be a “fire-proof” Christian. I wanted a challenge to prove that I was living for Christ. I wanted to push myself into things….to force it on my own. But that’s not what I see exampled in the Bible. God doesn’t want me to work on my own, He wants me to rely on Him. He says, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9 What He does want is my daily preparation and obedience to Him. So weather or not I have a fire to step into, I’ll be ready. So I guess, there’s 2 lessons from this:

• How am I doing in my DAILY activities and routines and habits, in relation to God? Am I actually studying my Bible? Or just skimming? Am I really praying? Or just daydreaming? Am I being diligent? Or lazy?
• Am I forcing myself to do certain things and “characteristics” that I’ve labeled as “godly.” Am I out there trying to debate or be show-offy or prideful?

Today, this verse seems appropiate:

^{Psalm 37:7}

⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
       do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
       when they carry out their wicked schemes.