Sunday, March 11, 2018

SELF

There are a lot of things we worship today.  They all stand on the shoulders of self.

We also worship success, but it stands on the shoulders of self.

We worship fame, but it stands on the shoulders of self.

We worship ambition, but it stands on the shoulders of self.

In fact, that's the story of how all our troubles started in the first place - over success, fame, ambition - over worship of self.

The Old Testament book of Isaiah tells the story of how Satan, once known as Lucifer - an angel of God - fell from heaven because he wanted to be worshipped instead of God being worshipped.

Lucifer was in charge of the music in heaven - the worship leader.  And Isaiah tells us Lucifer wanted that worship for himself.

That didn't go over well with God, so God cast him out of heaven down to earth.  We see him represented in the Garden of Eden in the form of a serpent.

After all that got messed up, one of the major things God did to start putting it all back into order is that He created -- YOU.  He created you with this unique distinction, because now God has an unemployed and bitter former angel on the earth and no worship leader in heaven - and guess who He's given that assignment to now?

You.

Isn't that fantastic?

That's why Satan hates you so much.  He isn't some cute demon in a red jumpsuit with horns and a pitchfork sticking you in the heinie every now and then.  He's angry because you now possess the worship of God.  That was his job and you've stolen it.

It is for God's pleasure that you were created.  That's one of the things you'll do forever - praise and worship the Creator God.

He gave you the ability to create music.

You say, 'No, I can't create music.'

Yes, you can.  You can play it and sing it.  That's why we can be so consumed with music.  It's why we play it in our cars.  It's why we download it to our devices.  It's why we go to concerts.  It's why we turn out by the mass hundreds for church worship nights.  We're deeply impacted by music.

God gave you an instrument with your voice.  All of you.  'Make a joyful noise to the Lord,' the Bible says.

'Oh PK, if you ever heard me sing . . . '

I don't want to hear you sing -- but God does.

He said in Psalm 150:  "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Do you have breath?

It's what you were created to do.

And be blessed.

No comments: