From 10,000 Miles Up

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths." (Proverbs 5:21)

A good friend of mine and I met for coffee last night and had a great time of fellowship and discussion. Among other things, we talked about relationships, life, and our mutual dislike of much of today's "organized religion." We also talked about worship.

We both agreed that what goes on in churches today is often more of a 'big show' than it is worship.

My friend mentioned something he had heard about how followers of Christ in China today worship. Many meet and sit in a small circle, and for the first five to ten minutes, they just cry—overwhelmed and thankful for what Christ did for them on the Cross.

That touched me deeply. 

What a wonderful example of what a worship service should be. But it also saddened me because that is nothing like church worship services in America today.

What does worship look like in your life?

Even more important than what you do during the twenty five minutes of singing songs during the praise and worship service in church on Sunday morning, what does worship to God look like in your relationships? In how you spend and use money? In how you conduct yourself at your job? In your views and practices on sexuality and morality? How about in your social and political views?

Getting right down to the nitty gritty—what are your views on hot topics such as abortion? Do you think it's okay to have sex before you're married? How about your views on the sanctity of marriage? How are you going to vote this year, and why?

Now, consider your views and practices on all these things and then step outside of yourself for a moment and consider how God views them.

What does your life look like from 10,000 miles up? 

Puts things in a very different perspective, doesn't it.

We who profess to love Christ should constantly ask ourselves this question: "Do my views, values, convictions, practices and lifestyle today honor God?"

That should make us all swallow hard and really think carefully about what our life really looks like to God.

Forget about what is socially and culturally acceptable to today's messed up world. Set aside your feelings, emotions and opinions for a moment. And who cares what the talking head on television is saying.

What does your life look like to God?

We who are followers of Christ will each have to stand before Jesus Christ and give an account of everything that we did and said—both good and bad—in our life as a Christian.

Jesus said, 

"If a man loves Me he will keep My commandments." (John chapter 14)

     —Is your life a daily demonstration of true love to God?

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.