I don't know about you, but in some ways the beginning of September seems like more of a time of new beginnings than the change of years on the calendar in January. And so, to me, it feels like this time right now is a time of new beginnings. A new year at school begins for some people. Or a new time of life begins when you don't go back to school for the first time. And in the church, it's often the beginning of a new ministry year as well. Programs, Bible studies, classes for all ages start up again or start for the first time.
It can be a time of new beginnings for us personally as well. As new things begin or things we've always done are thing we move on from, we find ourselves in new situations and experiences and meeting new people. And God can use these times to change or begin something in us.
As someone who is not really a fan of change, I'm not always a fan of new beginnings. In fact, I usually try to avoid them if I can. But, I've started to learn that life gets boring if there are never new beginnings. We get stuck in the rut of doing the same thing all the time, and eventually we can reach the point of just going through the motions in life. At least, that's what happens to me.
But, if we allow God to begin new things in us and the things we spend our time on, we can learn things about ourselves we never would have otherwise. And we learn things about what God has for us in life and how He wants to use us and work in our lives that we never would have otherwise. It's worth the challenges that come with the new beginnings.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
physical expression in worship
In the last few months I've noticed how often Scripture talks about people having a physical expression in their worship. Worship didn't just consists of standing in one spot singing. Many times where was a response that came in a physical manner, whether it be dancing, clapping, raising hands, shouting, or falling facedown on the ground. They didn't seem to be concerned about others around them when they responded in those ways. Their hearts were responding to God and nothing else mattered to them.
Probably on the more well-known passages that records one of these times is 2 Samuel 6. The ark is being returned to Jerusalem where it belongs and David is worshipping God. 2 Samuel 6:14-15 says, "Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." (NIV). David was worshipping God with everything he had in him. Later, when he was asked about it by his wife Michal and accused of doing something inappropriate in his dancing in worship. David responded with these words, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel. I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes." (1 Samuel 6:21-22, NIV). David's dancing was a response to God and the people who may have seen it were not his concern.
Leviticus 9:22-24 records another response to seeing God' glory of the people of Israel. It was the beginning of the ministry of those God had called as priests. The people saw God's glory in a great way. The en of Leviticus 9:24 records the Israelite's response to what they saw, "And when the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." (NIV). Seeing God's glory caused two responses in the people of Israel - they shouted for joy and then they found themselves on their faces in worship before God.
As I reflect on these passages, along with countless other passages of Scripture that speak to the same thing, I've found myself thinking about my own life in worship of God. Am I really able to allow myself to respond in worship to God in the way that other's around me may not be? What do I think when I see others respond in such a manner?
I realize that in the Christian church today there is a wide range of view points on what may or may not be appropriate ways to respond in worship. I'm not going to get into that. What I think we can all agree on is that Scripture records a physical aspect to worship of God and there may be times we also feel the need to physically respond in worship to God. It's a part of worship, not the whole of it - but definitely important.
Obviously when we are in the midst of corporate worship, we need to be respectful of those around us who are also there to worship. And that may mean our physical expression of worship is more contained than it may be at other times. A physical response in worship should not be an excuse to cause a scene and shift people's attention to you rather than allowing them to keep their focus on God.
Probably on the more well-known passages that records one of these times is 2 Samuel 6. The ark is being returned to Jerusalem where it belongs and David is worshipping God. 2 Samuel 6:14-15 says, "Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." (NIV). David was worshipping God with everything he had in him. Later, when he was asked about it by his wife Michal and accused of doing something inappropriate in his dancing in worship. David responded with these words, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel. I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes." (1 Samuel 6:21-22, NIV). David's dancing was a response to God and the people who may have seen it were not his concern.
Leviticus 9:22-24 records another response to seeing God' glory of the people of Israel. It was the beginning of the ministry of those God had called as priests. The people saw God's glory in a great way. The en of Leviticus 9:24 records the Israelite's response to what they saw, "And when the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." (NIV). Seeing God's glory caused two responses in the people of Israel - they shouted for joy and then they found themselves on their faces in worship before God.
As I reflect on these passages, along with countless other passages of Scripture that speak to the same thing, I've found myself thinking about my own life in worship of God. Am I really able to allow myself to respond in worship to God in the way that other's around me may not be? What do I think when I see others respond in such a manner?
I realize that in the Christian church today there is a wide range of view points on what may or may not be appropriate ways to respond in worship. I'm not going to get into that. What I think we can all agree on is that Scripture records a physical aspect to worship of God and there may be times we also feel the need to physically respond in worship to God. It's a part of worship, not the whole of it - but definitely important.
Obviously when we are in the midst of corporate worship, we need to be respectful of those around us who are also there to worship. And that may mean our physical expression of worship is more contained than it may be at other times. A physical response in worship should not be an excuse to cause a scene and shift people's attention to you rather than allowing them to keep their focus on God.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
James 1:25
"But whoever looks into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it - not forgetting what they heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do." (NIV)
"But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." (NLT)
"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (NKJV)
"But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works - this person will be blessed in what he does." (HCSB)
Am I a forgetful listener?
That's the question that keeps coming to mind whichever translation I read James 1:25 in. It's a challenging question to ponder. It's a question that digs deep.
Am I forgetful listener?
It's easy to sit in church and listen to a sermon and then walk out and forget everything that was said. It's easy to read Scripture either on your own or in a Bible study and then walk away and forget everything you just read. It's easy to be a forgetful listener.
But, James is cautioning us against that in this verse. The larger passage that this verse is a part of talks about how we need to not just listen, but also live out our faith (James 1:19-25). We cannot live what Scripture teaches if we're forgetful listeners. We must study God's Word intently so we can do what it says because that will bring true freedom in our lives.
"But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." (NLT)
"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (NKJV)
"But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works - this person will be blessed in what he does." (HCSB)
Am I a forgetful listener?
That's the question that keeps coming to mind whichever translation I read James 1:25 in. It's a challenging question to ponder. It's a question that digs deep.
Am I forgetful listener?
It's easy to sit in church and listen to a sermon and then walk out and forget everything that was said. It's easy to read Scripture either on your own or in a Bible study and then walk away and forget everything you just read. It's easy to be a forgetful listener.
But, James is cautioning us against that in this verse. The larger passage that this verse is a part of talks about how we need to not just listen, but also live out our faith (James 1:19-25). We cannot live what Scripture teaches if we're forgetful listeners. We must study God's Word intently so we can do what it says because that will bring true freedom in our lives.
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