Archive for the ‘Purpose’ Category
Wednesday, June 9th, 2004
“You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”
Revelation 4:11 (New Living Translation)
“The Lord takes pleasure in his people”
Psalm 149:4a
Every now and then I am stunningly reminded that God actually enjoys my life. What a difference this makes! Instead of an image of God the disapproving teacher saying “You could do much better than this Macleod”, there’s this image of God the parent who takes pleasure in every point of progress in my life. A God who marvels in the emerging creation. God who loves the intricacies of my innermost being.
This is a great way to start exploring worship. Worship as a delightful response to a delighting God. It’s a reminder that we are not the only participants in worship. God is active far more than we are - its a 2-way experience. Worship is not just something we ‘do’. It’s something we take part in.
I appreciate Rick Warren’s reminder that worship is far deeper, greater, and wider than the forms we associate it with. Like music. We can worship without ever singing a note. In my house church we don’t have ‘congregational singing’. But we certainly worship God in lots of other ways. I also appreciate Rick’s reminder that worship is not for our benefit. I would say that there are many benefits to being in a worship experience. But we’re there to be lovers of God rather than consumers of worship culture.
Rick tells us worship is not a part of our lives, it is our life. Excellent point. I like to talk about worship experiences when describing services of worship. Worship continues as we live our lives to the glory of God. It can be unconscious or conscious. We don’t always have to be telling God, “Here I am to worship”, to be true worshippers.
I found Rick’s final illustration somewhat incomplete. He talks about when he first fell in love with his wife. He thought of her constantly through the day, during every activity. By constantly thinking of her, he was abiding in her love. He finishes the chapter by saying real worship is all about falling in love with Jesus. Well - I wonder if he thinks about his wife all day now. The emotional rush of discovering someone for the first time certainly encourages the preoccupation associated with falling in love. But what happens when the rush wears off?
I know there have been times in my life when I’ve been entranced by God. But at other times I’ve been anything but. But all the way through, I’ve loved God. Love is so much more than emotional rush. Love calls me to offer myself, completely, in my lifestyle, my attitudes, my response to my environment, my transparency before God, my delight of God. All in response to the God who loves me more than I could ever ever comprehend!
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Monday, June 7th, 2004
“Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory”
Romans 11:36 (Living Bible)
As a young Presbyterian I grew up with the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession. It was a question and answer way of helping people learn doctrine, or be indoctrinated. I learned the first one indelibly: “What is the chief end of Man? The chief end of Man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever”. Every now and then there’d be a slip of the tongue and we’d say “glorify God and endure him forever”.
In this chapter Rick Warren introduces us to the concept of glorifying God and not glorifying God (sin). He introduces us to the five purposes he’s found in the Scriptures that apply to everybody:
1. We bring God glory by worshipping him.
2. We bring God glory by loving other believers.
3. We bring God glory by becoming like Christ.
4. We bring God glory by serving others with our gifts.
5. We bring God glory by telling others about him.
We’re invited to believe God loves us and made us for his purposes, believe we’re not accidents, believe we were made to last forever, believe God has chosen us to have a relationship with Jesus, who died on the cross for us.
We’re invited to receive Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Saviour, receive his forgiveness, receive his Spirit, who will give us the power to fulful our life purpose.
The question to consider today: “Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God’s glory?”
I see God’s glory reflected in God’s creation everyday - I need to remember to stop and ’smell the daisies’.
I experience God’s glory as I rub shoulders with my fellow travellers each day. Makes a difference to the way I see the other people on the motorway.
I experience God’s glory as I offer every part of my routine to serve God.
I think the glory of God is something that bursts outside the bounds of the church. It breaks into my homelife - even in the middle of domestic squabbles over who washes up. The glory of God surprises me in the people who reflect the character of Jesus even though they’re not keen on professing Christian faith. The glory of God turns up on TV every now and then - when people profess their beliefs and values in public.
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Monday, June 7th, 2004
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.”
Psalm 39:4 (New Living Translation)
This is the third metaphor for life Rick draws from the Bible. The idea of being a sojourner, alien, pilgrim, foreigner, stranger, visitor, and traveller - it rings true to me. I see many images in the scripture, many stories, in which the people of God are reminded that their ultimate destiny lies in a place beyond their present dreams.
I’ve been in Australia as permanent resident for three and a bit years, though I haven’t yet taken out citizenship. I still feel as though New Zealand is my home. But Australia is not enemy territory. I feel no guilt about cheering for Australian athletes and swimmers. Though I do still support the All Blacks, the Auckland Warriors, and the Otago Highlanders.
I’m a sojourner living here as long as I’m called to be here. For all I know, that could be another three years, or another forty three years. But in the meantime, I’m putting down roots. I’ve bought a house. I’m making friends. I’m learning the language, and adapting my accent.
Rick Warren uses the scenario of becoming ambassador to an enemy nation. He says we’d need to learn the local language, adapt to some customs and cultural differences in order to be polite and accomplish our mission. But if we fell in love with the new nation, we’d become a traitor, acting like the enemy.
Good point. Though I’d be careful in applying that scenario to life on earth. The kingdom of God is not limited to life beyond death. Eternity starts right here and now - in the context in which we live right here on earth. I believe we’re living in God’s zone - in created territory, not occupied territory.
The conflict in values comes when we succumb to the assumptions that are against God’s values. Like when we place higher value on possessions and status than on people and relationships.
I’m very aware that our time on this planet is limited. My father died of heart failure at 73, my mother at 79. She would have died at 70 if not for a heart valve operation. I’m 42 - over halfway through a natural life expectancy. I could go any time in the meantime though. I sat with a friend over an afternoon while his heart stopped working every 45 minutes or so. That was last year. He’s not old. My own daughter died at 18 months. On her tombstone we engraved: “We are fragile beings living in a dangerous world”
So we’re here for a temporary assignment. But an intentional embedded assignment. A bit like the Jewish people receiving Jeremiah’s letter in Jeremiah 29. He says that God arranged for them to be taken to this country, Babylon. They need to put down their roots, plant gardens and build homes. They need to encourage their children to marry and have children, right there where they live. They need to pray for the success of their city and nation. But they are never to forget that God will bring their descendants back to Jerusalem. Their long term destiny is not tied up with this place.
This all makes a difference to the way we treat our environment, our neighbours, and our own bodies. I want to work on a lifestyle that promotes the kind of world God dreams of - right here in Australia, as much as in New Zealand and the rest of this planet.
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