Thanks to my sister a video that sums it all up. Its been months now. I have been asking myself this core question am I / are we praising the Lord or just going with the motion because its now a familiar place / ground. Ever since I was born say some or even better in my mother's womb I hear the same music.
One thing I have learned is that familiarity can really be scarry, creepy and bad. It shapes a culture and because its too ingrained in us, we are unaware of the things we do that we do it because that's part of the system. No questions asks! We stop thinking! Robots if I may say. Obligations perhaps?
I am moving off tangent for a while. The place I work in (or anyplace for that matter has a culture) whether you are aware of it or not there is one. The old folks in that place probably wouldn't find anything wrong with it but the fresh ones or those from the outside can instantly recognise the culture of the place. Soon long enough the culture becomes part of you.
When I first started work I found it so hard to fit into the work culture. (read my earlier posts on work). However, for me since it was my first experience at work I couldn't tell the difference between the different work experience and kept telling myself that this is how the work culture is. Step up to it. Many new fishes have swam into office and fish out of water will of course jump and I saw the difference through their eyes.
Back to the topic. So it is with church. When I first came to the Lord I knew the difference between having a relationship with the Lord and not having one. The contrast was evident. I only started going to church regularly when I was in Standard 6 and going to church then and going to church now well its different once again. (You will notice the difference when you move from one church to another as well because its different). Its not a motion because you do not know what the motion is. You don't know the ropes around so your eyes are open. Your ears up and your senses scans the environment and everything around.
Now 10 years and I know the truth that being too comfortable is a red flag we need to be aware. I know how many times I stand in the pews at church just waiting for the service to be over and thinking of what is there on the menu. Jesus, the one who quenches my hunger I declare. Then service comes and take its place. I get so busy with church service and well no one can question right? I am serving the LORD MOST HIGH. What can be more noble than that? Mary sitting at Jesus feet. (Luke 10:38-42).
I chase after the gifts in the hands of the giver and not the giver. I thought that perhaps seeing the miracles, the manifestation of His glory, having the warm revelation that He is king is the answer. Or perhaps if I am bless with academic success, wonderful career I am more blessed than others. Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up treasures on earth... for where your treasure is there also will your heart be. Nothing wrong with all these but slowly and surely we will shift our focus on boxing the God of all into ideas we think He is working and should be doing. In other words we push Him of the throne and say I am boss.
We flock the churches on Sunday mornings, cell groups, meetings. All good stuff but then again has it become an excuse. Too busy. I am just too busy. Too busy for anything else. Too busy to visit a colleague who just gave birth. Too busy to comfort a friend in grief. Too busy.
Face it although we always cry for change many a times we actually dislike change. We are resistant to change. Especially if it came from someone else. Doing the same wrong thing over and over again does not make it a right.
The songs of the video cannot hit the chord as spot on as it did. I (Myself first. Stand guilty) / We REALLY NEED to take a step back re-think our actions and our words.
God can only be glorified and lifted up and I am made to worship HIM. My prayer is that I will dig deep and do a self check. See high to see pass HIS Hands to see the face of HIM and not just stop at HIS hands. Through all times (good and bad) to say He is my Lord and to live like I really mean it and only God can judge.
Well, hope you are encouraged (looking for partners to journey along this race and hear the masters voice at the end of it all) and I would like to end with this song because we need it to have our senses always on alert and ready to be used by the porter.
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