Wow! Yesterday at New Life Community Church was, at least for me, an AMAZING day! There were so many things, so many distractions, that I could have easily allowed my focus to move from the work of Christ on the cross, the empty tomb, and the possibility of people crossing over from death to life…BUT by the grace of God I was able to keep smiling and simply worship.
Pastor Jim shared a message that I believe applies to each and everyone one of us. As the Worship Pastor (music guy), I can get so wrapped up in the production, on the programming, things that I’m convinced I ‘control’ that I ignore the purpose of the worship experience…WORSHIP! My focus shifts away from the WHO and lands on the WHAT. I’m a pastor! Focusing on Jesus should be easy right? Spiritual things should be second nature, right?
Wrong.
I struggle just like you. I wake up each day and have to fight myself. Sometimes I don’t want to pray. Sometimes I don’t want to read the Bible. It almost makes me sick to write this…am I REALLY saying that I don’t want to hear from God? Yes. I have a natural tendency to be selfish, self-centered (Selfless? Can I get a rain check?).
I used to stay there. I used to remain frustrated, controlling, and anxious over STUFF. I’ve wanted to quit, throw in the towel, walk away…simply because things were happening the way I wanted, how I thought was best, when I wanted to see it happen (notice all the ‘I’ statements). Selfish. BUT, like I just said, I ‘used’ to stay there. Now, I recognize my faults, I acknowledge my flaws. I no longer run FROM them, but run TO them and hit them head on.
I’ve realized that I can no longer allow my ATTITUDE hinder my decision to follow Jesus. I’ve realized that I must CHOOSE joy in spite of my circumstances. If I’m being critical it’s because I’ve lost sight of the cross. If I’m being sarcastic it’s because I’ve forgotten my redemption. Jesus has to be my EVERYTHING!
My question for you this morning is one that I must answer on daily basis: “Have you fallen out of LOVE with Jesus and fallen into a ROUTINE with church?”
Jesus must be first. Jesus must be my EVERYTHING! I absolutely cannot wait for this coming Sunday!
Pastor Jim shared a message that I believe applies to each and everyone one of us. As the Worship Pastor (music guy), I can get so wrapped up in the production, on the programming, things that I’m convinced I ‘control’ that I ignore the purpose of the worship experience…WORSHIP! My focus shifts away from the WHO and lands on the WHAT. I’m a pastor! Focusing on Jesus should be easy right? Spiritual things should be second nature, right?
Wrong.
I struggle just like you. I wake up each day and have to fight myself. Sometimes I don’t want to pray. Sometimes I don’t want to read the Bible. It almost makes me sick to write this…am I REALLY saying that I don’t want to hear from God? Yes. I have a natural tendency to be selfish, self-centered (Selfless? Can I get a rain check?).
I used to stay there. I used to remain frustrated, controlling, and anxious over STUFF. I’ve wanted to quit, throw in the towel, walk away…simply because things were happening the way I wanted, how I thought was best, when I wanted to see it happen (notice all the ‘I’ statements). Selfish. BUT, like I just said, I ‘used’ to stay there. Now, I recognize my faults, I acknowledge my flaws. I no longer run FROM them, but run TO them and hit them head on.
I’ve realized that I can no longer allow my ATTITUDE hinder my decision to follow Jesus. I’ve realized that I must CHOOSE joy in spite of my circumstances. If I’m being critical it’s because I’ve lost sight of the cross. If I’m being sarcastic it’s because I’ve forgotten my redemption. Jesus has to be my EVERYTHING!
My question for you this morning is one that I must answer on daily basis: “Have you fallen out of LOVE with Jesus and fallen into a ROUTINE with church?”
Jesus must be first. Jesus must be my EVERYTHING! I absolutely cannot wait for this coming Sunday!
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