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Archive for the 'Words' Category
Jesus said, “Our Father desires worshippers who worship in
spirit and truth.”
That is what we are called to be, as Christians:
people who offer spiritual sacrifices in practical, physical ways.
That is why Paul tells us to give thanks in every circumstance, to
choose to rejoice always, to pray as often as we breathe. But these
things only happen in a true worshipper’s heart. And true worship
happens when we, like Isaiah, see our Father, seated on the throne as
King of the universe. Sometimes our worship seems small or futile,
and sometimes foolish. True, the music and paintings and dances of
our worship will pass away, as will people’s fame and possessions and
opinions, and every created thing. But should a singer stop singing
because the song will someday be silenced? No, we continue to sing in
faith. Why? Because our Father desires us to do so. Let us become
worshippers in spirit and truth!
“…already had in mind…”
…what do you already have in mind? what do you accept is commonplace, for granted, impossible to be otherwise? Jesus said, “Do not work for the food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you…”
Yet you come to me today like the crowd, trusting him in measures that boil down to satisfying our monetary concerns. I know the amounts of cash that flow in and out, just as I know the count of your headhairs.
[But what I thought would be is not. Please give the food that endures. Please give eternal life fruits for my soul is weak, and feeling pangs of hunger. Give me faith to realize that you will bless what I give, the small loaves, the few fish. This is not like Cain's offering, fruit of a cursed ground. This is, I hope, the bread and fish of a poor boy. They are meager and lacking much. My assets, my talents--to be placed in your hands.]
I will bless them; giving thanks for them, I will break them, and I will multiply them.
When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad,
he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,
for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
…And a great many people were added to the Lord.’
Acts 11.23-24
Even before this, in verse 22, the report came to the ears of the church. It was on hearing a report of good news, that they sought to see. At this point they could have gone with critical eyes and a faithless heart, but it was not so with Barnabas.
Barnabas saw with good eyes, lived from a heart of faith, and his mouth was a fountain of fresh water.
There is a connection here of 1. beholding, 2. believing, and 3. blessing / proclaiming. If our eyes are good then the whole being is filled with light, and out of the abundance of the center-most heart the mouth speaks. But it is the Holy Spirit working in us to weave this organic system into a whole: the eyes-mouth relationship via the heart; the words of life and truth bearing the fruits of faith and gladness in other lives because of its perfect operation.
[Examine me--has my heart left after money, riches, and man's praise?
Has my hunger for life been clouded and mixed? Does my path seek to
gain my own kingdom, or seek yours first?]
