July 25th People Reflection

Monday 7/25/2005

1 Corinthians 11.17-34-Worship is not a selfish experience-tell about Jesus death until he comes

2 Kings 5-Go wash and be cured

Obadiah-Then the kingdom will belong to the LORD.

Mark 10.35-45-Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Acts 12.1-2-The Church is persecuted-by violence

Psalm 32-Repent-God will forgive

"There’s too much wind for the balloons to go up this evening."- That’s what I was told last evening at Smith Park. Not a problem. We just sat and enjoyed a hot day in the park. But the main attraction was canceled- sometimes I wonder if in worship God gets that same notion- when I worship in my own selfish "windy" way—no main attraction at that- sometimes I wonder- when I go to worship and I want to hear God so bad- that I don’t even worship God- am I there for my own "windy" selfish reasons?- I think I need to change- go to worship to worship God for who he is and for all he has done- do the simple things and worship to please God- reminds me of Namaan- he wanted some fancy cure for himself from Elisha- it would help him feel important- but he was told to go wash in some crummy river- it wasn’t about Namaan – it was about God curing him- was Namaan "windy"—I think so- again in the OT – over and over – the people turned from God and in their own "windy" way the were lost- the kingdom belongs to God—not to me or anyone else- I guess that’s one reason why some disciples who wanted to sit on the left and right of Jesus lost focus on their "windy" selves—Jesus came not to be served but to serve- and the church is persecuted by the authorities- we sure have it all screwed up on our "windy" selves- it’s not a new problem- but it’s a recurring problem all of us should be ashamed of – it’s time I and all the rest of us repent- God will forgive- turn our worship and praise back to God the giver of life- did God speak yesterday—yea—and it’s not about me having too much wind—cause when I do—the main event is absent- I think God is the main event. – Forgive me!

Prayer-Lord-you are God- forgive me when I lose sight of this- forgive me when I try to place myself in your place- forgive me when I turn from you and try my own ways- for you are God- I praise and worship only you! -- Amen