I have been really personally challenged by the following theme that arose in a Vision Team discussion and subsequently in a number of individual conversations.
In our consumer society we easily become expert critics. The typical conversation following a meal in a restaurant begins with the positive, ‘that was nice’ but often quickly moves to ‘…but the gravy was a little tasteless, the plate’s cold and I didn’t think much of the decoration.’
It is hard for us when coming to church not to find ourselves in consumer mode, ‘that was nice, but…’
There will be benefit for us in coming to church but actually we come for God. We are actually all players on the stage ‘performing’ for the audience of one, longing for His smile and applause. It is rather like us taking an honoured guest to a restaurant and then joining the staff to cook for and serve that guest.
We are all part of the team working together to bring glory to God. As we join in worship, prayer and listen to the story of his works, we are together serving God, seeking his glory. We must be careful not to push him out of the chair and plonk ourselves in it!
This does not make coming to church, or for that matter living as a Christian, arduous but rather makes it liberating – we were made to love God and to glorify him. ‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever’ says the Westminster Shorter Catechism. There is nothing more joyous than being the people God called us into the world to be.
For some, this may mean taking time to prepare before coming to church, to pray for those who have lead roles and to look out for ways to engage personally. It will mean wrestling stray thoughts back to focus upon God. It will mean repenting of the ‘me’ obsession that we all in part carry with us and asking God to take his rightful place in our hearts and our gathering together. It will mean seeking to love the Lord your God with all your heart (emotionally), soul (our life focus), mind (intellectually) and strength (physically).
These things are hard, but the presence of God is so precious that we must pursue it – dare we settle for anything less?
As we live, work, gather and play, let us seek the presence of God and burn brightly with his love.
Yours,
Howard
