Faithfulness: Behind Closed Doors

Sunday morning worship should not be a good judge of how faithful someone is to Christ. What we do in front of others should not determine how committed we are to Christ. For example, raising hands in worship, singing a solo, offering prayer or even preaching a sermon should never define someone's faithfulness towards Christ.

Faithfulness is authenticated when the doors are closed and no one else is looking. The question becomes, will I be faithful and obedient to God's will above my own when its not for show? Will I choose to flee from my sin and respond in love when my spouse gets on my nerves? When a friend betrays me or when my waitress forgets to fill up my drink. When I come face to face in the heat of the battle with temptation, will I choose to give in or will I flee because of my love for Christ?

When the doors are closed do you turn to your vices? Is alcohol, anger, bitterness and rage what you turn to more than Christ? What is your life truly founded upon on an average Monday when no one is looking?

Everyone always wants to look good to other people. I'm speaking towards my own struggle here. We seek the approval and praise of others more than the praise and glory of an all-knowing and righteous God. We want to do lots of stuff for God, forgetting that one of our main purposes in being a Christian is just knowing Him. Throughout the week is the word of God our delight, do we sing and make music unto the Lord during an average Thursday? Do we treat that Mcdonald's worker with the same respect and love we would if we were entertaining angels?

Truth is, one cannot minister well if one's relationship to God is on the rocks. Yes, God certainly uses moral failures to do His will. We see that all throughout scripture, but those who failed never stayed there in their sin. They rose above it through the repentance.

If you and I really want to be transformed we've gotta get real about who Jesus is. Jesus called those who wished to follow after Him to die to themselves daily and to walk as He did. This is not call for the weak, but only for those who wish to join with King Jesus in battle. It is only for those who are willing to join in the Lord's army, to become a soldier for Christ giving up complete control to their commanding officer.

If only we would join alongside our King on daily basis, truly, we would see our lives, communities and churches transformed. If only we would be so brave to move past people pleasing church to God-honoring worship throughout the week we would see lives be healed and the broken be made brand new.

Yes, and so today on an ordinary Thursday I chose to die to myself and to live for my King, even when no one else is looking.

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I'm Kind of a Big Deal: Teens and Self-Directed Worship

Today's youth culture is experiencing a worship problem.  The act of worship is not something they lack.  They have no problem worshipping.  However, the object of their worship is misguided and misdirected.  

They live in the midst of a culture that has told them its totally acceptable and even honorable to worship themselves. The worship of self isn't all together obvious.  It's usually quite subtle.  It's difficult to ascertain at first, but once the surface has been scratched, self-directed worship starts to ooze from the cresses of materialism, pride, selfies, "likes", and how many followers one has on Twitter.  

I wonder what would happen if we really starting getting into the lives of these young people who hide behind their smartphones and Facebook statuses.  A lot of the time a Facebook status or Tweet reveals a teenager who is crying out to belong or who wishes someone would notice the pain they feel so deep in their soul.  

Social media has opened up a whole new window into the soul of a teenager and adults who don't care to dig too deeply allow teens to be taught by Google and YouTube instead of by true wisdom and real relationships with adults who can speak truth into their lives.  

Misdirected worship makes selfish, hedonistic people.  Life becomes all about them, what they can gain, and receive instead of what they can give and who they can serve.  

Worship of the one True God causes us to take the focus off ourselves and plugs us into a plan far greater than one that we could ever dream or imagine.  It teaches us to say no to self and yes to sacrifice and service.  It points us to hope and joy in Jesus Christ.  It gives life and peace, real, lasting peace.  Not temporary happiness or fleeting hope.  

We will always worship something.  Teenagers will choose to follow the message of the culture if no other message if being taught to them.  Jesus calls us to live set apart lives.  For us to be in the world, but not of it.  When was the last time you spoke the words of truth into a teenager who has been misguided believing they need to run the race of popularity and self-worship like everyone else?  

They need your wisdom.  They need the hope and joy of Jesus Christ.  They need adults who would be willing to invest in their lives.  To give of their time to teach them.  Lets not allow our children to be taught by the culture anymore.  There is a better way offered in Jesus Christ for all who would call on His name.