Devotional Christian » Worship

Wholesome and Clean

Patricia Day — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:42:02 +0000

Ezekiel 37:23b – I will wash away their sin and make them clean, and I will protect them from everything that makes them unclean. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (CEV)

There is a major house renovation going on close to where we live. Actually, it has been in progress for weeks and weeks – new roof, insulation, siding, windows, doors, sunroom and storage addition – a complete overhaul! I don’t know, because I have not seen inside, but I have to assume that there is a great deal of updating, repair and cleaning being addressed inside the home too: and I assume this due to the time it is taking to complete the work.

I recall when my husband and I, were looking for a home in this park, that we viewed one particular unit that was in a beautiful location, the price was amazing (it would have left a great deal of ‘spare’ cash for renovations) but the condition inside was nothing short of ‘disgusting’: how anyone could have lived in the home in the condition it was in, was beyond our comprehension.

We had agreed that we were willing to move into a house of our choice and do work while living there, but the filth and the updates needed in that particular house, were way too bad for us to even consider moving in and living there in – there was far too much to do to make it habitable.

When some people are challenged to give their lives to God and invite Jesus into their hearts, they recognize the truth that they have sinned before God. As a result, they want to clean up their lives before they issue an invitation to Jesus. They don’t yet understand that God comes into our lives to clean us up, precisely because we can’t do it for ourselves.

Isaiah 64:6a – But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. (NKJV)

The good news is that God loves us just as we are. So when we become willing to accept God into our lives, thankfully, He does not shun our dirty lives like we rejected that dirty home. He welcomes us and cleanses us. He does not leave us as we are, with our disparaging thoughts, our criticism of others, our idolatry of all things material, and all our major and minor sinful ways. This process is called “sanctification”.

Isaiah 1:16 – Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong. (CEV)

Just as the house we viewed had much to clean up before being habitable, so God needs to clean up our lives, thoughts, and actions, so that we become a true reflection of His Son, Jesus, in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

James 4:8 – Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind. (CEV)

Prayer: Abba, make us aware of all that is in our lives, our thoughts, and our deeds, that is unworthy of Your presence within us. Wash us clean, and renew our spirits and hearts so that we are wholesome, presentable, and welcoming to all who look at us and the ways that we live. We want to be acceptable to You and winsome to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Leaping To Conclusions

Hariette Petersen — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:39:23 +0000

The receiver stretches and reaches the goal-line. The referee raises his arms straight up. “Touchdown!” Everyone on the team leaps in the air for joy. Oh, but wait. The play must be reviewed. In seconds, excitement evaporates. Adrenaline dissolves.

It’s not all that hard to get excited when your football team scores a touchdown, your ball-team hits a homerun, or your basketball team sinks a 3-pointer in the final second of a tie ballgame. It’s not a struggle to celebrate with like-minded enthusiasts. They are loyalists– loyal to their team–just like you.

Yet, it makes me wonder. Every time I see the celebration, the frivolity, the joy, I muse. Why do Christians exhibit so little joy when their Savior is praised in Sunday worship? Shouldn’t we be just as excited, and happy, as thrilled when we see a lost person come to Jesus? When we hear a soloist sing a powerful song of praise extolling the amazing grace we have in Jesus, why do we know raised our hands in praise and joy; our sins are washed away! We have victory in Jesus! We’ve overcome the world through Him! Are we not on His team?

“The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” Psalm 28:7

I thought I was going to come apart last week when a soloist sang of God’s amazing grace and how He’d covered his sin and forgave him despite his rebellion. My mind jumped up and down with joy! God so loves us. He’s won the war with Satan. He’s overcome the world. He’s wiped out death. He forgives my sin. His grace is abundant! I get to spend an eternity in His glory and presence! Then, I shared that joy outloud. I clapped my hands and said, “Amen! Amen! Praise God!” Another lady in front of me turned to see me. She clapped her hands, in a moment, she wiped tears from her eyes. She knew. She grasped the import of the praise and glory due the LORD. Our hearts joined in exultation, as most sat in ho-hum silence. How do we sit silent during a clarion call to praise to His holy name?

Oh, I know we all have problems. I know there are difficulties in lives I am unaware of. I know that some people just are not emotionally demonstrative. Yet, I am not talking emotion. I am talking knowingly giving God glory for what He is and what He’s done, and what He’s doing in our lives.

Fans leap to conclusions with enthusiasm at the prospect of a silly score, yet barely crack a smile when they know, without a doubt, the conclusion of our mighty God. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to sit on the sidelines waiting for the referee to review my faith. I don’t want to sit idly by and walk out of the stadium the same way I came in. I want to leap for joy! After all, “leaping to conclusions” is a sure thing…when it comes to Jesus.

Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

Joy

Dionna Sanchez — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:08:20 +0000

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart” (Where?) Down in my heart (Where?) Down in my heart to stay!”

I sang that song in Sunday School. I grew up in the church. So many classic Sunday School songs come back to me now and minister to my heart – just when I need them.

Some things are just timeless. Their lessons –albeit simple – are resounding.

I’ve been thinking about joy lately. How it seems to escape so many of us. And this simple Sunday School song came flooding back to my mind and to my lips.

Oh, how confidently a child can sing out that they have joy! They don’t shoulder the cares and burdens of a life filled with responsibility, hurt, and hard decisions that need to be made.

But deep inside this adult heart – still lives that child. And still lives that joy. That joy may just have been pushed deeper, but it’s still there. For I don’t believe God can exist in a heart aside from joy. For it is a part of who He is.

Joy. Joy gives us our strength. It helps us laugh through pain. It brings us hope. Love. Peace. Perspective. Focus. That’s joy. It reminds us who we’re living for.

I’m on a journey. A journey to dig deep and grab hold of that joy that has been pushed down underneath all the other “stuff” of life. I’m ready to set it up on top of everything and let it lead me in life. Let it fill me.

How about you? Where is your joy? Has it been pushed down too deep inside of you? Is it time to bring it up out into the open again?

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

~ Dionna Sanchez

http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com

The Most Effective Witness

What Is The World Coming To?

Hariette Petersen — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:45:37 +0000

People wonder.

In light of the recent crop of wars popping up in the Middle-East nations, people wonder.

With the speculations of Apocalypse, Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, people wonder.

Yesterday, I read about the burning of 69 churches in Ethiopia, 30 Christian homes, a Christian orphanage, a Christian office building, and more. Blatant sin is touted as okay by NFL greats, million-dollar actors, and yes, everyday average people. Christians succumb to sexual immorality. Society accepts and tolerates more and more sin as the new norm: “addiction”.

Indeed…what IS the world coming to? That was a question posed on a friend’s Facebook status wall tonight. I was first out of the gate to answer: “An End.”

Others chimed in with similar gloom and doom. One recalled a childhood saying: ”to hell in a handbasket, whatever that means.”

The forthcoming reply: Handbaskets were for picnics. So it means that it’s going to hell and no one cares.”

Then there was the clarion shout, “Come, Lord Jesus, come.”

Longings. Sighs. “I’m ready.”

Finally, a self-described “contrarian” voice of profundity admonished:

“…It’s coming to a glorious rebirth! I’ve never quite understood why we Christians allow the temporal brokenness and sinfulness of the present order to overshadow the promise of all things made new.” Paul Littleton

A pin dropped and I heard it. Pow! Thud! What is the world coming to? Rebirth. A new Jerusalem. Peace. Goodness and Glory. Majesty! A kaleidoscope of colorful beauty! Wonder of wonders!

Praise when the voice is weakest.

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2

Hope when the world is blackest.

^“Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,“Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5

What is the world coming to? A new dawning. A glorious new day.

Prayer: Oh, Lord, whatever the world does, we know those who trust in You will see a new earth filled with your glory and majesty. As the world rebels against your will and way, and false prophets rise up to confuse and lead others astray, we know You will not abandon the children who stand firm in their faith in You. We praise You, exalt You, and rest in You, oh Lord our King and Redeemer.

Mountain Top Feeling

Matthew Fry — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:00:39 +0000

“As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” – Luke 9:33

This morning I’m crawling out of my sleeping bag on the floor of a church in Central Florida. I’m surrounded by the sounds and smells of 15 middle school boys. Later today we will be wrapping up the final day of a 2-day conference for middle school students that has challenged them. It has taken some of the students to a place in their walk with Christ that many of them have never been. Some of them made decisions last night and some will make decisions later today today.

I’ve been to dozens of these types of conferences/retreats where on Saturday afternoon when we are packing up to come home we will have the feeling that we want to stay right here. We’ll sacrifice sleeping in our comfy beds, going to bed on time, showering, and having access to Facebook; to simply stay here.

These conferences reveal a glimpse of what heaven will be like. What it will be like to do nothing but sing praises to Jesus for all eternity. It is easy for us to express ourselves in worship when we’re surrounded by hundreds or thousands of others who are doing likewise and we don’t have to worry about being made fun of for being a Christian. We want to cling to every chord and lyric that is sung because we know we have to go soon, but it is when we leave and take the News that we just heard and put it into action that we’re changed.

We take the Gospel to the people who desperately need it. We take what we learn and share it with a generation that is crying out for someone to show them love. In Matthew 28 we are commissioned to “go and make disciples.” That is what we do when we leave these conferences.

My prayer for today is that not only will these 29 boys and girls get it, but that everyone who reads this will get it as well. That we’re not to stay up on the mountain, but we come down and share what we’ve been blessed with.

“Dorothy, I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Kentucky Anymore!”

How To Worship God

Hariette Petersen — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:02:37 +0000

My 4 year-old granddaughter Kinsey graduated to “big church” from the pre-school department. Now she gets to stay with us until the welcoming time and then she goes to children’s church with the older kids. Today she was swaying to the combined choirs and singing along. She was so happy to be part of the worship time like her older sister. This introduction into corporate worship is exciting for her.

Sometimes people get all caught up in mechanics, methodology and emotions when worshipping. Some folks think they have to feel a certain way, to act a certain way, to respond a certain way. Some are told their worship is invalid because they do not raise their hands; their hearts are cold because they do not offer continual “Amen and Praise the Lord” in response to music and preaching. As Kinsey begins to learn the meaning of worshipping God, she will watch what others do. She will mimic at times. She will have many questions. But the sweetest thing today was that she wanted to participate. As I watched Kinsey’s expressions, her enthusiasm made me think of what Jesus said about worship:

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24

Our spirit combines with God’s Spirit the moment we believe the Truth. God breaks through our surrendered will and ingrafts His Life with our soul. Once we are regenerated by His grace, we are never without the ability to worship our Creator. Unlike Kinsey, we may have times we feel dead. We may be in crisis and incapable of feeling–but our worship is as genuine as the day we were saved because our spirit bears witness with His eternally. Our faith in Christ and our gratitude for Him is our true worship. And when we cannot muster our broken hearts to praise, the Holy Spirit holds it up to the Father and offers prayer in our behalf.

Do we become complacent in our joy to worship our Lord? Do we care more about how worship affects us and pleases others? Or is our priority in having a prepared heart, and an open mind to hear His voice and how much praise and adoration He deserves for who He is?

PRAYER: Thank you for making it possible to worship in spirit and in truth through Your Son’s sacrifice. Lord, keep us ever mindful of the glory of Your grace and mercy. Let our hearts be open to receive You and surrender our will to Yours and love You for all You are.

Make a Joyful Noise

Chris Roberts — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:40:59 +0000

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Psalm 100:1-2

Psalm 100 is one of the shorter Psalms but it contains marvelous reminders of the goodness of the Lord. It begins with a call to praise, to make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! We are to be people who enjoy the Lord, who have his praise always on our lips (Ps 34:1). We are to serve him not as reluctant servants but as joyful children, glad to do the will of our Father.

The Psalmist tells us why these things should be: Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. He is the creator of all. We worship and enjoy the one who made us and has called us to be his people. We are his sheep. His pasture is rich and nourishing, providing comfort and safety and the delightful presence of the good shepherd.

We are to enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! How often are we sour and dour when we gather to praise God? We must use even our emotions to the glory of God, approaching him with joy and gladness. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and praise! Thank the Lord and bless him!

Remember that the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. He will never leave you nor forsake you. His love is steadfast and unending. He will be faithful to all generations of those who are his children. You people of God, make a joyful noise to the Lord!

Tremble

Chris Roberts — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:46:32 +0000

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob…
Psalm 114:7

There is something comforting in knowing we worship a God who causes all the earth to tremble. The popular thinking of today tends to shy away from a God of power and might, choosing to emphasize lowliness and meekness. But the same God who emptied himself, took on flesh, and became a servant is also the God who causes the earth to tremble and shake, mountains to crash into the depths of the sea. The same Son of God who entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey will one day return leading a host of heavenly beings, the mighty army of God.

Tremble in the presence of the Lord. Never take for granted who it is that you worship. Never forget that he spoke billions of stars into existence. Always keep in mind that you will one day stand before his judgment seat.

Today, like yesterday and tomorrow, you live Coram Deo, before the face of God. He will see your every action, hear your every word, know your every thought. But even as you seek to be holy in the sight of your holy God, be comforted, child of God, in the knowledge that our God reigns over all creation. The earth will tremble at his presence. Every knee will bow before him. And the trials you now face will one day be over as Jesus welcomes you into your eternal home with him. The Lord, the righteous judge, will exact vengeance on all his enemies and he will reward all those he has made his children.

Tremble at the presence of the Lord. Tremble in awesome respect and fear at his power. Tremble in overwhelming joy at his mercy toward you.

How Do You Worship?

Hariette Petersen — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:41:14 +0000

Do you sit quietly and whisper words of praise? Do you raise your hands and sway with the beat of the music? Do you cradle your emotions and horde the joy you have in knowing God? Does it really matter how you express your love to God for the glory He has bestowed upon you through His Son? Some would answer, of course not. Others would argue, most certainly. Some would answer, I don’t know.

David wrote that we should use timbrals, lyres, harps. “Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.” Ps. 81:2. David wrote we should come into His house with praise and thanksgiving. He even danced naked before the Lord. “Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.” Ps. 149:3. But that was before Christ. What about today? Has God changed His mind about how we should worship Him? Does it really matter how we worship as long as we worship? It may not matter to others but it matters to God. Jesus said:

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23,24.

Churches do all kinds of things in their corporate worship time today. Some argue over the kind of music, the volume of music, and even the instruments used to produce music. Can we actually come to God in worship when we have this kind of discord in our lives before we enter the sanctuary? Could there be a reason God gave specific intructions on how the priests were to approach Him and burn incense to Him in Leviticus? Some chose their own way of lighting the incense and it cost them their lives. Lev. 10

God hears those who worship in Spirit and in Truth. God hears the prayers of His people. God “seeks” those who want what He wants. Any other worship is babbling and worthless. Any outward display used for anything other than giving God all the glory does nothing but leave participants with an emotional high or a warm fuzzy feeling. Worship is sacrifice. Sacrifice to God is giving up one’s own pleasures to give God all pleasure. It’s a brokenness before Him. It’s recognizing the only worship worthy of God cannot even be entrusted to our feeble, foible acts.

There is joy in being a Christian. Pure, truthful joy. We have Christ within us; He never leaves us. His joy flows from us as water over a dam, it is not a trickle, it is powerful and full of love. His Spirit mingles with our spirit and gives honor, praise, and worship to Him as He deserves–not inhibited, man-pleasing theatrical acts. We are His sanctuary. Our very bodies belong to Him. Our worship is pure because God literally uses Himself to filter out our fleshly imitations of worship. In Him we give praise. In Him we give honor, praise and glory for all He has done. And when we have been with the Lord in worship, we will walk as He walked, and love as He loves. Then we will know we have been with the Lord and worshipped in Spirit and Truth.

Exalt the Name of Christ Above Our Own

John Starke — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:34:04 +0000

One could describe the Christian life in many different ways. You could describe the struggles of remaining faithful or the suffering of many for the sake of the Gospel. You could also describe the joys of living in light of forgiven sins or the knowledge of not having your sins held against you for all eternity. The Christian life is filled with many different aspects.

John the Baptist, I’m sure, experienced all these things, yet Scripture describes the essence of his life in one particular way. The sum of his life was making much of Christ. In Luke 3, many began to wonder whether or not he was the Christ who was to come to redeem Israel. John, knowing his place in the kingdom, said, “He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (Luke 3:16). John’s life was made up of pointing to Christ – the joy of man’s desiring!

The tendency of mankind is to make much of ourselves. This tendency doesn’t necessarily disappear when we become Christians. We still struggle with this desire even though we have found Christ, who fulfills all our desires and expectations. Yet, our effort should be that in all we do we point to and lift up the person of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are sign posts to the King of Wonder, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

It is easy to miss this in everyday life. For parents, we desire to have our children honor and obey us as God commands. However, it is easy to make their obedience to us more important than their obedience flowing from a heart that loves Christ and his Gospel. We, as parents, often make much of our status as the authority and forget to direct our children’s hearts to their Creator and Redeemer. Nothing can satisfy our hearts or the hearts of others except a grand vision of God. May God give us grace to be humble and to exalt the name of Christ above every name, including our own.

—
John Starke is on staff at the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood in Louisville, KY. He and his wife Jena have three children. He also blogs at John Ploughman.

Bless the Lord

Emily Riley — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:34:02 +0000

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.”

We are commanded in Psalm 103 to call our souls to action. We are called to bless the Lord. This praise should not be one of legalistic requirement, but rather from a heart that overflows in gratefulness for what great things the Lord has done. He is the God who has forgiven our sins! He is the God who is powerful to heal. He is not limited or bound by human limitation. He is the One who drew us up out of the pit of destruction. And now, He guides us, leads us and satisfies us every step of the way.

Psalm 103 goes on to describe why we should bless the Lord. It’s important for our souls to not merely say words of thankfulness, but to tie those thoughts together with attributes of our great God. This will help us avoid the trap of legalism, and will also guard our hearts from complaining, as we consider more deeply the great God we serve.

We worship a God of justice. If you struggle with sins committed against you and injustice in your life, remember that we serve a just God. He will avenge, He has not forgotten you. “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed…
God is merciful and overflowing with love. When we are tempted to think that he may be angry with us, we can cling to this promise that through the cross of Christ, the wrath of God does not rest on the children of God. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.”
God does not give us what we deserve. He welcomes us to stand in confidence before the throne of grace, expectant of mercy and help in our times of need. “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.”
He has removed our sin from us and no longer views us as guilty and condemned. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
The Lord is compassionate. He knows our weakness and He is powerful to save. “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

We just celebrated Thanksgiving… a time to stop and be grateful for the many blessings in our lives. As Christians, every day should be one of thanksgiving and praise to the God who continually blesses us. Join me today in praising our great God together. No matter your situation, you deserved hell and instead found mercy at the cross. With all that is within me, I will bless His holy name!

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Rebuking King Jesus on Palm Sunday

Hariette Petersen — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:32:43 +0000

As I contemplate Easter Sunday, I am reminded of the great celebration when Jesus entered Jerusalem. I’m reminded of the throngs who threw their cloaks to the ground as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt. They waved palm branches and cried, “Blessed is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!” Crowds gathered and lauded Him. They rejoiced in His powers of healing, in the miracles He’d performed; His popularity reigned supreme. And some of the Pharisees did not like it. “Teacher, reprove Your disciples!” They did not call Jesus “King”. They called Him teacher. To them, Jesus was no greater than any other teacher.

Is it any different today? As some celebrate the majesty of our King today, are there those like the Pharisees? Are there those who would like to silence our voices of praise and exultation? Yes. There are. There are those today who would like to still our voices; they’d like us to go away. There are those who scoff and see Jesus as no greater than any other religious leader. There are even those who rejoice in all the miracles Jesus performed, and later left Him alone to be crucified. Which are we?

Those of us who know Him as Savior and Lord cannot be silenced by a few who would “reprove” us. We stand in allegiance to Him as the empty cross is lifted. We do not run away or cower in the face of difficulty and impending doom. We want the world to know that Jesus Christ is King. And He offers a peace that no other can give. He offers a freedom no other can sustain. He offers a Kingdom, no other can create. Let us praise His holy name!