Worship

Does it ever blow you away that we have the ability and opportunity to worship the one true God?

Do you ever sit back and actually think about the object of your worship; really sit down and meditate on His greatness?

When you sing of His greatness and glory, do you remember how He used His own lowliness and humility to show it to us?

When I really think about the words I’m singing, and whom I’m singing to, I loose it.  Tears, brokenness, humility.  It’s awe inspiring to me; really mind-blowing.  Jesus Christ, the Word, the great I Am is my God, my Savior.  WOW, what a glorious thing it is to be loved by Love itself.  This is joy, this is the abundant life, this is love overflowing; Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again for me, Ben Smith, to be redeemed and made righteous in God’s eyes.

I want to be a better man.  I want to be a better husband.  I want to be a better lover, father, worker, leader, shopper, worshiper, you name it.  Why can’t I make it?  Why do I keep failing?  How long will you tolerate my shortcomings God?

I’m still me, and it’s okay for now, but I must see my error, recognize it, confess it, and repent/turn from it.  Then I’m back on track again. How marvelous are Your ways.  We’ve been studying the book of James.  Our Bible study started; we had 12 adults and 15 kids this week.  We’ve made it through 11 verses so far, and already, God’s speaking to my heart.  I worked and studied and prepared to be able to help people through the book and I am being impacted more than I can even imagine the others are.  Basically, I need to get with the program, not for the program’s sake, but for mine, for it’s my time that I forfeit, time that I could be accomplishing great things.  Time that I could be drawing closer to my Lord.  Read through James and see if you don’t feel the same way…  wow

Lord, bring revival to my heart; a revival to serve and honor You with all I do, say and witness to this fallen world You gave so much for.

Ben

Baggage part 2

So, Baggage stinks.  It really does.  But what do you do with it?

Give it to Jesus should be the default answer.  If you don’t know Jesus, then the world would offer you various other baggage mitigation devices, none of them actually working.

That’s great, I kinda covered this last time.

but,,,

What do you do when your baggage raises its head?  Like, how do you react when your baggage is especially heavy on you?

Example: Early on in my Christian life a brother and sister in Christ invited my wife and I over to dinner.  The dinner was nice but the purpose for the invitation came to light after we were finished.  They lovingly informed me that I was the single rudest person either of them had ever met.  I might be exagerating a bit, but you get the point.  Baggage…

Now, I want to talk about this in two different lights, and from two different perspectives.

I’ve been studying the Book of James.  In Chapter 1 James says: “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Basically, trials are good when you finally get through them.  Like the scholar Hannah Montanna says “Life’s a climb, but the view is great.”

James also says: “12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”

Basically, James gives some crucial clarification here.  Temptation to sin is not the same thing, from the same motivation, and does not result in the same rewards as the Trials of your Faith.  Temptation to sin has it’s source in our own sinful hearts.

So, when we’re faced with a difficult situation, like dealing with our baggage, we’ve got two choices.  We can look at it as a trial from God through which we’ll grow and come out better than before.  We can also look at it as yet another temptation to sin.

Lets go back to my example, the two lights, the two perspectives.

•    Light 1:  Me
o    Perspective 1:  Temptation…   I was really tempted to defend myself.  This was my gut response.  I wanted to lash back out.  I came up with at least 15 snappy responses.  I was just being funny.  This isn’t my fault, they shouldn’t blame me.

o    Perspective 2:  Trial…  Holy Toledo, I’ve been hurting these people.  This is God’s way of finally opening my eyes to it.  This is so embarrassing, so humbling, so not what I’m used to dealing with.  I need to except this, apologize, and try to learn how to stop this.  God, give me the strength to love them like you do.
•    Light 2: Brother and Sister
o    Perspective 1:  Temptation…  Ben is such a jerk, such a looser, I hate him.  He must not be a Christian, no real Christian would act like this.  I hope he feels like he makes me feel.  Ugh, I hate him!!!

o    Perspective 2:  Trial…  This isn’t going to be fun.  Ben’s a good guy, he doesn’t realize that he’s being mean.  I don’t want to make him feel bad, or hurt our relationship, but I’ve got to say something to him.  I love him, and as a Christian I’m supposed to hold him accountable.  God, give me the strength to love him like you do.

My sinful nature tempted me to respond in sin.  The Holy Spirit urged me to go to God.

My brother and sister were tempted to respond in sin because they too have a sinful nature.  Praise God they took the higher road and opened up to me that night.

The weekend I spent with my brothers and sisters recently was like this for me.  There were several times I could actually realize the decision was before me.  My baggage, their baggage, whatever, the choice is still there.  Do I respond with sin, or with strength?

I had an opportunity to see them make these choices too, both types.

It was a good weekend.

If anybody understands what I’m trying to say, let me know, cause I’d like to talk about it more, but I don’t want to spin my wheels.

Thanks everybody!!!

Ben

I think you should study the Bible more.

I think you should study the Bible more.

Why should I study the Bible?  I mean, why should I do it, like, on my time?  Isn’t what I hear on Sunday enough?  Isn’t what I hear at Youth Group fine?  I mean, I listen to the Christian radio station.  I buy Christian music, wear Christian shirts, have Christian stickers on my car.  I say prayers before I eat, I volunteer at the Church functions.  I dress up on Easter and attend every Sunday I can.

Haven’t I done enough already?  I’m not trying to be flippant, really, I just don’t understand, isn’t what I’ve done enough?

No, it’s not.

What about me?  What about my time?  When do I get my time, Ben time?  If  I church, church, church, church and church, and that’s not enough, and I’ve got to do more, when do I get to be me?

What are you talking about?

I just don’t get it.  I really do think that I’m doing enough as it is.  I believe that God loves me, and that I’m doing more than my part.

What???   Are you serious???

Yeah, seriously, I’m a good Christian.  Jesus loves me, He’s not going to make me do this and that, I mean, that’s legalistic.  That’s silly.  I’m free in Christ.

Wow

What ever, stop judging me.  “Judge not lest ye be judged!”  That’s in the Bible, so, leave me alone already.  Like your way is the only way!!!

Sure thing, later man…