Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
Time Management
Time Management
Ephesians 5:15-20
Ephesians has been called the “Queen of the Epistles”. (Epistle is a letter to a group of people.) It has been called that because it contains the basic teachings of the Christian faith about what God has done for humanity, and it also gives basic directions to believers about how they should live. The epistle can be divided into two parts. The first 3 chapters focus upon God’s acts of salvation and our identity as the children of God. The last 3 chapters focus upon the Christian life, that is, what people who call themselves children of God are supposed to do.
This part of the epistles says that people have a choice: they can either be wise or foolish. Earlier, Paul has described the choice by saying that people can live in the light, or live in darkness. He also writes about those who are foolish, and those who understand God’s will. And he also says that believers should not be drunk with wine, but should be filled with God’s Spirit.
Paul also writes about time, and says that people should make the most of their time. Or, another way of saying it is, that it is important for people to manage their time. Each one of us makes important choices about how we use our time. Some choices seem routine; other choices seem to have significant implications. Paul has several things to say about using our time wisely.
Using our time wisely is not automatic. It seems to come more naturally to us to let time pass us by, to just go with the flow, and do whatever we feel like doing at the time. Paul writes that Christians should be filled with the Spirit and that means also being led by the Spirit. If we are to use our time wisely, it means that we will follow the leading of God’s Spirit and do our best to do the will of God.
Using our time wisely is not just about getting more information. It is not just about what we know, but it is also about how we use the information that we know. And, when it comes to doing God’s will, we never finish learning, and we never have fully arrived. There is always more to experience, and areas to grow as we aim to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
Using our time wisely means acknowledging that the world around us does not encourage us to make the most of our time. There are many things that call for our time, but not all of them are important. The world around us, and our culture, have not always lived up to God’s hopes and dreams.
Using our time wisely is a matter of putting Christ’s will into action. It does not involve reckless abandon and self-indulgence. But it involves being willing to serve and make sacrifices. “Make your life count for something important.”
Using our time wisely involves worship. That means more than just worship services, but includes any time of the week or day that we may make a connection with God. Worship is both conscious and unconscious, vertical & horizontal, personal & corporate. It can involve singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs – to each other, and to God.
Use your time wisely; make the most of your time.
Make wise choices.
Be filled with God’s Spirit.
Choose who you will serve – yourself or God.
Make your life count for something important – in the name of Christ, and for the sake of God’s kingdom.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Epiphany Thoughts
Epiphany Thoughts
Phillippians 2:10-11
It usually feels like the Christmas holiday ends around New Year’s Day. After New Year’s Day people are getting back to their normal routines. It is time for back to school and back to work, and most of the decorations have probably been packed away until next Christmas. It feels like Christmas is over.
But in the church calendar, the Christmas season continues until January 6, the day of Epiphany. This is the day that celebrates the visit of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus, the story told in the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. So, in the church calendar there are twelve days of Christmas, beginning on Christmas Day and ending on the day of Epiphany. This reminds me of the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, but I’m not sure that there is any connection between the song and the Christian calendar except the number of days.
The day of Epiphany reminds me of an email note that I saw several years ago. The subject was the Wise Men and the question it asked was: Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men? The answer: They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts.
Everyone has probably heard something about the Wise Men. The story says that it is unlikely that they were at the stable where Jesus was born, because Matthew records that they entered a house when they came to see Jesus. The story also tells us that it may have been as long as two years after the birth of Jesus that the Wise Men made their visit, because Matthew records that King Herod ordered that all Hebrew boys two years old and younger be killed. The story also doesn’t say how many Wise Men there were. Tradition says that there were three, but the story only says that there were three gifts.
So who were these Wise Men? Studies tell us that they were a respected class of scholars devoted to study of the natural sciences, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and astrology. They were scientists, and academics. To say that they were astrologers is probably a stretch. For Matthew they represent the most powerful, wealthy, and educated people. They were also the most likely to doubt. But they were not kings, even though the best known song about them is “We Three Kings”. Although they were not kings, they did represent the world’s power and wealth. And they came to bow down before the new king of Israel.
As we recall the story of the Wise Men, we may also note the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He writes, “…every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” The Wise Men tell us that Christ came not only for the religious and chosen people, but for the outsiders, the undeserving, and those not chosen. Eventually everyone will bow before the King as the Wise Men did. Their story tells us that Christ is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. The story calls us to come and offer our gifts and ourselves to God and to Christ. Today is a good day for us to bow and worship God.
Phillippians 2:10-11
It usually feels like the Christmas holiday ends around New Year’s Day. After New Year’s Day people are getting back to their normal routines. It is time for back to school and back to work, and most of the decorations have probably been packed away until next Christmas. It feels like Christmas is over.
But in the church calendar, the Christmas season continues until January 6, the day of Epiphany. This is the day that celebrates the visit of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus, the story told in the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. So, in the church calendar there are twelve days of Christmas, beginning on Christmas Day and ending on the day of Epiphany. This reminds me of the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, but I’m not sure that there is any connection between the song and the Christian calendar except the number of days.
The day of Epiphany reminds me of an email note that I saw several years ago. The subject was the Wise Men and the question it asked was: Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men? The answer: They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts.
Everyone has probably heard something about the Wise Men. The story says that it is unlikely that they were at the stable where Jesus was born, because Matthew records that they entered a house when they came to see Jesus. The story also tells us that it may have been as long as two years after the birth of Jesus that the Wise Men made their visit, because Matthew records that King Herod ordered that all Hebrew boys two years old and younger be killed. The story also doesn’t say how many Wise Men there were. Tradition says that there were three, but the story only says that there were three gifts.
So who were these Wise Men? Studies tell us that they were a respected class of scholars devoted to study of the natural sciences, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and astrology. They were scientists, and academics. To say that they were astrologers is probably a stretch. For Matthew they represent the most powerful, wealthy, and educated people. They were also the most likely to doubt. But they were not kings, even though the best known song about them is “We Three Kings”. Although they were not kings, they did represent the world’s power and wealth. And they came to bow down before the new king of Israel.
As we recall the story of the Wise Men, we may also note the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He writes, “…every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” The Wise Men tell us that Christ came not only for the religious and chosen people, but for the outsiders, the undeserving, and those not chosen. Eventually everyone will bow before the King as the Wise Men did. Their story tells us that Christ is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. The story calls us to come and offer our gifts and ourselves to God and to Christ. Today is a good day for us to bow and worship God.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Devotion
Devotion
Luke 7:36-39
When former president Ronald Regan died in June of 2004, there was a state funeral in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. There were several images that were a part of the larger experience. One was the picture of 4 former presidents and the current president standing together as the coffin was moved out of the National Cathedral. Another image was that of the rider-less horse in the funeral procession.
But the image that made the biggest impression on me was one of Nancy Regan on the day before the funeral service. As she stood by the flag-draped coffin in the Capitol Rotunda, she was brushing her hand over the flag on the coffin. At first I thought she was smoothing out the wrinkles in the flag. I remembered what someone had said about Ronald and Nancy Regan: “He worried about nothing, she worried about everything.” But then she continued to stroke the flag and was talking toward the coffin. She was talking to Ronald. I then realized that this was an act of her love and devotion for her husband. It was no secret that Ronald and Nancy Regan were close. Some people said she worshipped him.
The story in Luke 7 calls our attention to another woman and another story about devotion. While Jesus is in a house, a woman uses expensive oil as she pours the oil on his feet and with tears, wipes his feet with her hair. Her actions express her gratitude and deep devotion. She is grateful because she is a sinner. We don’t know what her history is, or what she has done, but we can assume that she needs God’s grace. She has heard about God’s forgiveness, and responds with love and devotion. Her actions say: “Thank you.”
The story reminds us that our actions are an expression of our priorities and our devotion. The use of our time, our energy, and our resources, tell us what we think is really important. We must admit, that there are some things that just have to be done, but what we do with our “free” time, or extra time can tell us about our interests and commitments. In the story in Luke 7, the woman uses her time and energy, and expensive perfume to express her devotion to Jesus. The question for us is how we will use all that we have and are. What does how we live tell us and others about our priorities and our passions?
The good news of this story is that God is gracious and loving. In our own ways, each one of us has fallen short of God’s intentions for us. God wants us to live full and overflowing lives, but we have come up short of God’s grand plan for us. Jesus spoke the words of grace to the woman. “Go in peace. Your faith has saved you.” She expressed her faith through her act of devotion. She also received the forgiveness of God and was able to make a clean start.
God has great plans for each one of us. It all begins with a gracious and loving God who calls us to do our best. And when we fall short, God offers us the gift of forgiveness, and a new chance to start again with a clean slate and aim to do our best. That’s the way it works when we have faith in a gracious and loving God who calls us to love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. It is about being devoted to God, because He is devoted to us.
Luke 7:36-39
When former president Ronald Regan died in June of 2004, there was a state funeral in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. There were several images that were a part of the larger experience. One was the picture of 4 former presidents and the current president standing together as the coffin was moved out of the National Cathedral. Another image was that of the rider-less horse in the funeral procession.
But the image that made the biggest impression on me was one of Nancy Regan on the day before the funeral service. As she stood by the flag-draped coffin in the Capitol Rotunda, she was brushing her hand over the flag on the coffin. At first I thought she was smoothing out the wrinkles in the flag. I remembered what someone had said about Ronald and Nancy Regan: “He worried about nothing, she worried about everything.” But then she continued to stroke the flag and was talking toward the coffin. She was talking to Ronald. I then realized that this was an act of her love and devotion for her husband. It was no secret that Ronald and Nancy Regan were close. Some people said she worshipped him.
The story in Luke 7 calls our attention to another woman and another story about devotion. While Jesus is in a house, a woman uses expensive oil as she pours the oil on his feet and with tears, wipes his feet with her hair. Her actions express her gratitude and deep devotion. She is grateful because she is a sinner. We don’t know what her history is, or what she has done, but we can assume that she needs God’s grace. She has heard about God’s forgiveness, and responds with love and devotion. Her actions say: “Thank you.”
The story reminds us that our actions are an expression of our priorities and our devotion. The use of our time, our energy, and our resources, tell us what we think is really important. We must admit, that there are some things that just have to be done, but what we do with our “free” time, or extra time can tell us about our interests and commitments. In the story in Luke 7, the woman uses her time and energy, and expensive perfume to express her devotion to Jesus. The question for us is how we will use all that we have and are. What does how we live tell us and others about our priorities and our passions?
The good news of this story is that God is gracious and loving. In our own ways, each one of us has fallen short of God’s intentions for us. God wants us to live full and overflowing lives, but we have come up short of God’s grand plan for us. Jesus spoke the words of grace to the woman. “Go in peace. Your faith has saved you.” She expressed her faith through her act of devotion. She also received the forgiveness of God and was able to make a clean start.
God has great plans for each one of us. It all begins with a gracious and loving God who calls us to do our best. And when we fall short, God offers us the gift of forgiveness, and a new chance to start again with a clean slate and aim to do our best. That’s the way it works when we have faith in a gracious and loving God who calls us to love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. It is about being devoted to God, because He is devoted to us.
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