Allow me to remind you of our vision statement. Our Worship Ministries exist to nurture worship as a lifestyle characterized by sincere responses to God’s self-revelations. God reveals Himself, and we respond. That is the essence of worship. We want to nurture that not as isolated acts, but as a way of life.
There are a couple of phrases running through my head as I write. “Our God is extreme” is the first one. It comes from the new curriculum that we are using in our musical disciple-making endeavor that is our Children’s Music Ministry. The song by the same title ass some questions of the listener and then affirms some truths about God. It is solid song scripturally (say that three times fast) and the kids really love singing it. This makes it a joy to teach and share. Oh, the delight of knowing we are instilling these kinds of truths into the hearts and minds of these children! If your soul is stirred, speak to me. We may have a place of ministry for you.
As wonderful and powerful as that phrase is, that revelation if you will, there is another that is searing my conscience. It is the closing line of the song, repeated several times. “He deserves extreme devotion.” This one is a little more difficult to sing, and I do not mean because of the way it is written musically. It is more difficult because it communicates our only appropriate response to God.
Though not everyone will do it, it is a simple thing to state the fact. “Our God is extreme.” Extremely powerful, extremely gracious, extremely loving, etc. It is an entirely different thing to say that this truth has an implication on the way I live, and yet another to say I will according to it.
The key word in these phrases is extreme. That is defined as “far beyond a norm in quantity or amount or degree; to an utmost degree.” Those of you that have been reading My Utmost for His Highest probably can begin to see where I am going with this. Certainly God consists of all good far beyond the norm in quantity, amount and degree. His love is extreme. Simply consider the cross.
With that revelation in mind, what should be our response? Extreme devotion. What is devotion? It can be defined as selfless affection and dedication. So, our response to God should be selfless affection and dedication far beyond the norm in quantity or amount or degree. Our utmost for His Highest. Our best for His Glory. Does that describe your relationship to Christ? Or better yet, is that what others would say, especially those closest to you, to describe your relationship with your Lord.
Are you living a life of obedience to Christ? If not what is keeping you? Do you know there is more to the Christian life than you have understood and experienced? Do you long for something more? What should you do?
Oswald Chambers put it like this.
It is not study that brings understanding to you, but obedience. Even the
smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God
immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about
Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already. (My Utmost
for His Highest, October 10, “How Will I Know?”)
Be encouraged. If you feel like you have almost grasped something of God, obey what you know, and trust to meet God in your obedience. Jesus is waiting to draw you closer than you ever thought possible. Trust me, you will be extremely satisfied with all he has to offer, but first you must offer all you have.
Let us encourage each other in this obedience that Christ may be formed in us.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
No comments:
Post a Comment