Captive or Approved and Noble?
How Scripture Defines True Worship
When we see someone with eyes closed and hands upraised in a church service we say they are worshiping.
They are, but worship is so much more than that.
When the Samaritan woman at the well asked Christ about worship, He told her it didn't matter where she worshiped. He said genuine worship has two characteristics—it must be done in spirit and in truth (John 4:1-42).
- In spirit: Giving ourselves fully to the Lord, renewing our minds in His Word, and refusing to conform to the world's values is a "spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1-2).
- In truth: Being honest about our sins and repenting (Psalm 51:16-17), holding fast to the truth of God's Word (Psalms 119:30-31), deliberately learning what pleases God and exposing things which are evil (Ephesians 5:8-12).
Ministry of Reconciliation: 2 Cor 5:17-19
Two keys in our salvation are forgiveness and reconciliation. In fact, we're called to the “ministry of reconciliation.”
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
We can show compassion for the needy, have a deep concern for world missions, and serve our church faithfully. But we damage our witness if we refuse to live out our faith in personal relationships as well as in ministry.
If we refuse to forgive and seek reconciliation in difficult situations, we are poor representatives of Christ's forgiveness and reconciliation.
We don't have to agree with everyone, and we don't have to make everyone our best friends. But we shouldn't be the ones refusing to discuss differences or cutting people off.
We cannot share Christ's message of forgiveness and reconciliation when we are refusing to offer forgiveness and reconciliation to others.
Best of all, as we seek to live out our salvation in all areas of our lives, God enables us to better fulfill His purposes (Philippians 2:12-13).
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See Pouting Is Childish and 6 Elements of Sincere Reconciliation. And please don't be taken in by the Boundaries teachings which exalt ego above reconciliation.
God Warns Against Epicaricacy
I learned a new word.
But I hope I won't be guilty of it.
This word means: "Rejoicing at or deriving pleasure from the misfortunes of others."
Our fallen human nature sometimes derives pleasure from the pain of our enemies. Even worse, jealousy can cause us to enjoy the misfortune of people who are not our enemies.
Even if a person deserves their misfortune (Galatians 6:7), God does not want us to rejoice. And He certainly doesn't want us to rejoice at the suffering of someone we envy.
"Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them." Proverbs 24:17-18
God is interested in the attitudes of our heart. He expects us to show mercy, returning good for evil (Romans 12:14-21).
Today take a moment and ask God to reveal any envy, jealousy or epicaricacy you might be feeling toward others.
I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Check out the great sales on Lifeway, Christian Book, and Amazon.
BLN
"That's Easy for You to Say!"
Whenever I start feeling negative about personal matters or about the deception that’s present in our world, I know there’s one thing I need to do: start listing my blessings and thanking God for each of them.
Standing Daily at God's Door
Today I'm sharing a devotion straight from my book Wisdom for Life. This is Day 20 out of the 100 daily devotions it includes. I hope it blesses you!
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Day 20
When I became a Christian in my early twenties, the Bible came alive for me. Even though I had two little ones in diapers and a soldier husband with a demanding schedule, I couldn’t wait for my children’s nap time so I could steal away and read God’s Word.
Proverbs 8 personifies God’s wisdom as a woman calling out to us: “People, I call out to you; . . . Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway. For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord” (vv. 4, 34–35).
How well that expressed my feelings. I wanted to stand at the door of God’s Word every day, seeking His counsel and advice. I’d had my fill of “philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition” (Col. 2:8), and it was so refreshing to read God’s words, knowing that none of them were “deceptive or perverse” (Prov. 8:8).
I was beginning to apply biblical principles to my life and seeing the “knowledge and discretion” they brought (Prov. 8:12). This delight in God’s Word not only empowered my new relationship with the Lord, but it has sustained it throughout the years.
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. (Ps. 1:1–2)
For Further Thought
On a scale of one to ten, how would you describe your love for God’s Word? If it’s below ten, how might these Scriptures inspire a deeper appreciation: Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:105,130; Proverbs 30:5?
Now is a great time to purchase Wisdom for Life because it's on sale at some greatly reduced prices on Amazon, CBD, and Lifeway. Did you know that you can also get it as a Kindle or audio book?
Talking about Turkey and God's Creativity
- Turkey has more protein than beef or chicken (source).
- Turkeys were introduced to Europe by the Spanish who discovered them in Mexico, but the English called them Turkish and the name stuck (source).
- Ben Franklin didn't oppose the eagle as America's national bird, but he believed the turkey "was a more respectable bird" and more representative of America (source).
God could easily have created a single food item to supply our nutritional needs. He could have created all food bland and unattractive. But He didn't.
He created thousands of plants, animals, fish, fowl, herbs and spices for our pleasure. He created food with different colors and textures and so many flavors that we can create billions of combinations.
Scripture says God derives pleasure from creation:
“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11
He obviously wants us to derive pleasure from it as well.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, let's thank God for creating so many things for our pleasure…not only things to eat, but so much more!
Seeking Genuine Peace in the Midst of Trials
These two verses in Colossians are so rich! And I really appreciate them when I'm going through stressful or challenging times.
Refusing to Move into the Darkness
My husband and I just made a major move halfway across the U.S. It's a challenging time as we learn what we need to know about our new location and seek to fulfill God's purposes.
The Freedom of Contentment
Our grandparents saved for years to buy things we get on credit the minute we want them.
We no longer understand the difference between a want and a need, and our culture encourages us to live beyond our means.
The worst part: we think we deserve these things—and that’s the belief that enslaves us.
Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through [Christ] who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13
Today let’s take a moment to thank God for His provision and beg Him for contentment in whatever situation we find ourselves.