"This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me." (Matt. 15:8)
The incident that prompted these Words from Jesus was a concern by the Pharisees about men's tradition as opposed to God's desires. The disciples had not performed the ritualistic hand cleaning before eating. Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah in this comment. He goes on to say, "in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
Stop for a moment and think about the reality of our worship. How often do we associate it with a place and a style of a service. In fact, too often we confuse the priorities of God. We substitute a worship service for worship in service. (Roman 12:1-2). How much of what we do is the traditions of men as opposed to what God desires.
When Saul acted very presumptuously to offer a sacrifice to God without a priest, the prophet delivered the message of God that obedience was more important than sacrifice. How often are we guilty of giving lip service to God instead of true worship? Isn't our ultimate act of worship found in obeying? I think so.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Got Vision?
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Prov. 29:18)
The Hebrew word is "chazown" and it occurs about 34 times in the Old Testament. It is not a matter of a personal dream that represents your "pet" project, or favorite aspect of ministry. This word for "vision" includes the concept of divine revelation. It is a "God-give" vision. It is being able to seek God to the point that He communicates His vision for your life, or for your ministry.
The word "perish" is the word "unbridled." Without divine revelation people stumble over themselves, or they go about without God's direction, without restraint. So the question is, have you had a divinely given vision that directs your life. I am not talking about something so mystical that it is abnormal or unusual. I am talking about prayerfully seeking God until He communicates clearly His vision to you.
Certainly it is going to be consistent with the Bible. Throughout the scripture our call is to glorify God by making Him supreme in every aspect of our lives, and then transferring that to every people of the world through mission and evangelism. Occasionally someone will say, "God hasn't called me". But I think if you double check, the Great Commission was given to every Christian, not to a select handful of professionals.
The Hebrew word is "chazown" and it occurs about 34 times in the Old Testament. It is not a matter of a personal dream that represents your "pet" project, or favorite aspect of ministry. This word for "vision" includes the concept of divine revelation. It is a "God-give" vision. It is being able to seek God to the point that He communicates His vision for your life, or for your ministry.
The word "perish" is the word "unbridled." Without divine revelation people stumble over themselves, or they go about without God's direction, without restraint. So the question is, have you had a divinely given vision that directs your life. I am not talking about something so mystical that it is abnormal or unusual. I am talking about prayerfully seeking God until He communicates clearly His vision to you.
Certainly it is going to be consistent with the Bible. Throughout the scripture our call is to glorify God by making Him supreme in every aspect of our lives, and then transferring that to every people of the world through mission and evangelism. Occasionally someone will say, "God hasn't called me". But I think if you double check, the Great Commission was given to every Christian, not to a select handful of professionals.
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