Bare Worship

Ephesians 5:1-2 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I remember, when I first started truly loving God, hearing Christians talk of their "devotion time." As they talked, it seemed like an experience that I would NEVER know how to do "right." I just kept listening to learn the "secret"...then, after years of listening, I realized, there is NO secret. Each person did something different and each person experienced the joy of God beside them and speaking to them.

God is present when we worship Him: But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3, NKJV). He is there in our songs, dances, painting, drawing, writing, reading and silence when we do not know how to worship and desire Him near (Romans 8:26, NLT...and the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words).

We can speak to Him in joy, anguish, anger and peace – there is no “right” way to devote your time to worshipping and being with God. We can be like the Levites, who had the trinkets and Holy articles of worship at their disposal in the temple or we can be like Moses who simply sat with God, no props, on a mountain away from the world, talking and listening to His voice. Both ways (and everything in between) have their seasons and are needed at different times.

Anything that sincerely bares and offers your heart to God is the "right" worship and devotion.

But the time is coming – indeed it’s here now – when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24, NLT)

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16-17, NIV)

God-Incidence

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NLT)

Coincidence, according to the dictionary, this means a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance. Synonyms include: accident, luck, nature and fate.

Even people who DO NOT believe in God see “striking occurrences of two or more events.” They “see” supernatural phenomenon happen around them and attribute these experiences to many sources, including…accident, luck, nature, fate. I want to suggest another source, God – I’m calling these phenomenon “God-incidences.” Coincidence isn’t enough to explain the supernatural realm, the supernatural forces that interact and affect us every day…even unbelievers think this and that is why they look for reasons/theories as to why these events happen. For example, we’ve all seen movies where the main character misses a bus, walks to work and on the way meets their true “fate” that they would have missed if they had made it to the bus on time. 

For those of us who believe and follow THE infinite and sovereign God, we receive this promise: “we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes for them.” What does this mean? Even though believers and nonbelievers experience “striking occurrences of two or more events,” believers will ALWAYS have those events turn to good for them as they submit their lives and events to God. Whether the world defines these events “good” (true “fate”) or “bad” (missed bus) is irrelevant…they WILL be GOOD for the believer of the Great I Am – He was, is and is to come…the only God who can create something out of nothing.

So, if your life, at the start of this New Year, feels as Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…,” do not forget the rest of the verse IF you are a child of God…“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10, NIV)

He has overcome and found victory, He is overcoming your “bad” and He will overcome and redeem it all! 

Romans 8:38 (NLT) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.