Sometimes, the Lord makes it tough for me to worship Him.
It’s a pretty shocking opening line, huh?
I’m halfway serious, but I don’t want Him to stop.
When I attend corporate worship, commonly known as the Sunday morning church service, I have to bring a notebook with me. Oh, and a pen. A really fun pen. For some reason, a fun favorite pen makes writing easier. Anyway, when the music starts, I quickly focus my mind on the lyrics and the Lord. Soon after, the Lord almost always begins to drop thoughts into my head. If I don’t grab my notebook right away, those thoughts start to evaporate like a morning mist when the sunrises.
I call them my Sunday Musings, and some of them touch me profoundly or give me a remarkable perspective that I’ve never considered.
For example, the value of gold and silver is determined, in part, by how pure the metal is. 24k gold is the purest at 24 out of 24 parts (.9999 gold). 18k gold is composed of 75% gold and 25% alloy, and 14k gold is composed of 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy. The same goes for silver. Pure silver is .999 silver per ounce.
That got me thinking as worshipers around me sang out boldly during the first song. Yes, the Lord loves us completely, 100%. But purity will play a big part in our 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 rewards (or losses) and our Matthew 5:19 place (or esteem?) in Jesus’ kingdom. How pure are our motives when we do a righteous service for another person in Jesus’ name? How pure are our lives as we go about our day? Are we living as Jesus would have us live, or do we blend the cheap alloys of self-serving pride or sinful desires to a degree? Are we 24k Christians or closer to a 50-50 14k knock-off?
Just like gold, we can never be one hundred percent pure. Only Jesus can be that pure. But that doesn’t excuse us from trying our best—just a Sunday musing.
Here’s one that hit me at the last service. Why is the resurrection of Jesus’ born-again followers who have died part of God’s plan? Because when we die we go to be with the Lord in a spiritual form. We leave our bodies behind to dissolve into dust because of sin’s effect on the world. However, we weren’t created as purely spiritual beings intended to exist exclusively in the supernatural realm. We were made as physical and spiritual beings to live on earth, where the supernatural and natural realms merged at that time.
Yup, that’s right. The Lord created us as physical/supernatural composite beings, perfectly fit for both the natural and supernatural realms on earth. Adam and Eve interacted with things of the material world – living creatures, plants, rocks, etc. – and also with God and other spiritual beings in Eden (Genesis 1-3). Because of sin’s effect on the world, when we die under the current system, we leave the natural realm behind and exist solely in the supernatural realm. We call that heaven. But God plans to restore us to our original design. Therefore, when Jesus comes to earth to take dominion and set things as they were intended to be, we will be fitted via the resurrection with new bodies (1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16) to exist on earth where the material and supernatural realms will be merged once again. Of course, we’ll need new physical bodies to house our spiritual selves so we can relate to the Lord’s natural and supernatural worlds.
Mind blown.
Here’s another example. As I was worshipping a few weeks ago, I began to feel a bit sorry for myself. I’ve served as a pastor since 1994. But in the last three and a half years, I haven’t served in a local church in the same capacity as a leader. I’m used to being the out-front guy, directing and influencing congregational life. Now, I’m not. I’m just another face in the crowd. Only a few people in our new congregation know my background. To most, we’re just another couple bopping in for Sunday worship services.
So, during my mid-worship pity party, the thought crossed my mind, “Lord, I’m invisible.” To which the Holy Spirit responded, “You’re not invisible. I see you.” No reproach. No condemnation. Just assurance and love. A deep comfort settled on me. I replied, “That’s enough for me, Lord.”
All of that in a flash of a second. Man, when the Lord goes to the heart, He goes deep and direct.
Okay, one more. Ready?
“Jesus is the Father’s kiss.”
That one made me smile.
I hope it made you smile, too.
So, the next time you attend your Sunday worship service, keep the ears of your mind open. Let the Lord break into your thoughts as you sing His praises or love on Him in song. You may be super surprised at what the Lord drops on you. It could be a scripture, a picture, a statement, or a simple impression. Don’t let it go! Please write it down and mull it over. Why?
That message was for you.
Sources:
What's the Difference Between 10k, 14k, 18k, and 24k Gold?, martinbuschjewelers.com/blogs/news/whats-the-difference-between-10k-14k-18k-and-24k-gold?srsltid=AfmBOoqfP6zTo43eIhNTS2uJz0maUM4A5J2PKxwpi345PtzZ_l2crZT4
Shining the Light of God’s Truth on the Road Ahead
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts