Everybody's Doing It

I typed in “everybody’s doing it” into Yahoo. I found everything under the sun, from ring tones to yoga, to a Netflix ad and an article about how “everyone is going green” to real estate investing to an article about aging, and a blog about motorcycles and another about neck tattoos and bare waistlines. There is one thing that I know Everybody’s Doing—Everybody is Worshipping something or someone.

An examination of one’s checkbook and calendar will help reveal what one is worshipping. Most people’s homes are set up as a shrine in worship of television and movies. The central focus of the house is set toward entertainment. Most of us don't worship an idol in the traditional sense of bowing down before a statue of a god. Yet, we often submit our will and attention to other idols--money, possessions, pleasure, etc..

Worship of God is a total abandonment of me in complete acknowledgment and acquiescence to my Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus. It is a response of God’s Spirit in us back to Him, which takes our soul and body along for a ride. Revelation 4:11 (KJV) "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." You and I exist for God’s benefit, glory, purpose and delight.

Worship is more than music. Worship is a lifestyle. My whole life is about loving God and pleasing Him. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Our motive in everything we do is to bring glory and pleasure to our Creator. I can worship at work, at home, at play, doing whatever, and wherever, it I do it for the Lord's pleasure.

The heart of worship is surrender. Pride is doing it my way. C. S. Lewis wrote, “The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become—because He made us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be…It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own.” Surrender is the opposite of self-serving and demanding. Surrendered people are the ones God uses. Nothing is more powerful than a life surrendered to God. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, said, “The greatness of a man’s power is in the measure of his surrender.”

In conclusion, consider the words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Rome, found in chapter 12 and verse 1 from The Message, "So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering." King James version reads, "...which is your reasonable service." Worshipping God with my life is reasonable. If God is God, then I must worship Him.

Everybody's doing it--worshipping. We might as well worship the best: God.

Peace,
Stan

Life or Death

On Sunday, our friend, Tony Cooke, preached at Cornerstone Church and at KC Life Church. He reminded us on the Sunday night about the Power of Our Words. Proverbs 18:21 (The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language), "Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose."

Nearly everyone has had hurtful words spoken over them. Often, these words have done great damage. Years have been stolen from good people, because of the words of other people.

Two questions come to my mind. First, are my words bringing life or death to others? Second, am I going to allow the words of others to destroy me? I want to use the power of my words to build up others and myself. This is one of the great missions of my life. There are several written commitments, which I carry around in my preaching notebook. Here are a few, which deal with my words:
I will love every person I meet, and influence others to love God passionately
through my words and actions.
I will say, "I apologize," and "you're right," when I am wrong.
I will say, "Thank-you," "well done," and "I love you," whenever deserving or appropriate.
I will create an environment around me where others are encouraged and challenged to reach maximum potential.

I also try to make a habit of saying over myself what God says about me, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am the head and not the tail. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. I am more than a conquerer in Christ. I have the mind of Christ. The greater One lives in me. I am blessed going out and blessed coming in. My barns are filled with plenty. I am accepted; I am loved; I am part of the family of God."

Reader, I challege you to use your words skillfully. They are poison or fruit; your choice. Choose life. You have the power.