"This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear." 1 John 3:16-17 _ The Message.
I think everyone would agree that putting Sacrifice and Comfort together is kind of like making a peanut butter and sardine sandwich – the two just don’t go together. There’s a reason for that – Sacrifice is supposed to be UNcomfortable. It’s supposed to make you twist in your seat at least a little bit. It should cause you to second guess and question your sanity. Sacrifice is supposed to be somewhat painful because it is stretching and pulling you out of your comfort zone while you’re going through it, but the rewards will make you soar.
We don’t like to be uncomfortable do we? We’ve even taken something as life-changing as sacrifice and we've turned it into something that is a bit easier for us to deal with. What do I mean? Well let’s take an example of someone standing with a sign asking for help at an intersection. We all see them and we all try to avoid eye contact as much as possible (come on admit it – I’ve done it too). One day you decide to reach in your pocket and pull out $5 and you hand it to the invisible person behind the sign – you feel a little uncomfortable because you you’re not sure if he is going to buy food or alcohol with the money; you feel at least a little bit good about yourself because of your act of kindness . . . and your “sacrifice.”
But was that $5 really a sacrifice? I mean, did it mean being able to pay your rent or car payment? That’s what I’m talking about, we’ve changed the meaning of sacrifice from something that is meant to take us beyond our means and capabilities, to more of a slight inconvenience. To most of us, $5 is nothing – it’s the cost of a double latte (with tip). It’s not a sacrifice at all.
What if Christ had taken the same attitude with us?
We’d ALL be in a lot of trouble!
The Bible say that the ONLY reason we are able to understand and experience the true love of Christ is because He sacrificed His very life for us. He gave all He had so that we could have life. His only condition was that we come to Him. He did the rest –He took care of all the details – He paid the entire price for you and for me.
Lately, this song has become my favorite worship song and the message of 1 John 3:16-17 are rooted within this song and I think that's why I am drawn to this song. Give it a listen and reflect on the words and the Scripture.
Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong United
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
True Worship
Paul described true worship perfectly in Romans 12:1-2 “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and perfect.”
True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how the worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things completely misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God's Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right place.
It’s also important to know that worship is reserved only for God. Only He is worthy and not any of His servants. We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing. Worship is done for God—because He deserves it—and for His pleasure alone.True worship is not confined to what we do in church or open praise (although these things are both good and we are told in the Bible to do them). It is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in everything we do. The highest form of praise and worship is obedience to Him and His Word. To do this, we must know God; we cannot be ignorant of Him. Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father.
True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how the worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things completely misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God's Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right place.
It’s also important to know that worship is reserved only for God. Only He is worthy and not any of His servants. We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing. Worship is done for God—because He deserves it—and for His pleasure alone.True worship is not confined to what we do in church or open praise (although these things are both good and we are told in the Bible to do them). It is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in everything we do. The highest form of praise and worship is obedience to Him and His Word. To do this, we must know God; we cannot be ignorant of Him. Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father.
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