Point of View--God (Part 5)--100 Words

Point of view (POV).

What’s your POV of God?

We all have one.

Even those who deny His existence.

So, what do you believe about God?

For me, that POV changes.

Frequently.

Sometimes daily.

No. it’s not what you may be thinking.

My POV of God doesn’t change as I want Him to change.

In that sense, God is unchangeable. He is an immovable heavenly being.

My POV changes as I learn more about God.

As I study His Word.

As I pray.

Hopefully, I know more about God today than yesterday, but not as much as I will tomorrow.

Point of View--God (Part 3)--100 Words

Point of view (POV).

What’s your POV of God?

I know the one I should have.

Or, have been told that I should have.

I was in church nine months before I was born. I’ve heard it for a LONG time!

But, have I listened to Him?

Have I really understood Him?

Or, have I only understood what others have told me about Him?

There’s a huge difference there.

I’m at the point in life where I don’t need people telling me what to believe.

I’m smart enough to listen, study, and evaluate for myself.

With God, that takes time.

Point of View (Part 2)--God--100 Words

Point of view (POV).

What’s your POV of God?

You’ve heard of Him, I’m sure.

The One mentioned in the Old Testament, and New.

The One Who has billboards with catchy sayings on them.

The One written about by preachers, theologians, scientists, and even a few atheists.

That one.

Earlier in life, I saw Him as a policeman—just waiting for me to fall so He could send me off to hell.

Later, I saw Him as distant—where was He when I needed Him most?

Most days, I see Him as creator.

Lover of my soul.

Eternally present.

Friend.

Fixation--100 Words

[Not our real closet! Not mine. Not the wife's. Borrowed from Google.]

Fixation.

(n) fix-a-tion.

Def: “An obsession or preoccupation.”

I have a tendency to fixate. More than I should.

I fixate on work. Or sports. Or the jerk in the car in front of me.

Or Facebook. Or blogging.

Do you do that?

Fixate on all the wrong things? The crazy things that won’t matter one bit tomorrow? And, if truth be told, don’t really matter right now.

Yet, I do it. Maybe we all do it.

But, that doesn’t make it right.

If I could only learn to fixate more on Jesus and His Word.

Now, that would be good.

Favoritism--100 Words

Favoritism.

Most people don’t admit to showing favoritism.

At least not proudly.

In the Bible, Isaac favored Esau over Jacob.

That didn’t turn out great, did it?

Later, Jacob favored Joseph over the others.

You would think Jacob would know better.

Centuries have passed since those stories took place. How many of us have not learned the lessons of Isaac or Jacob?

Even in the church, we show favoritism. We look the other way when some people sin—because they might help us later.

James 2 said something about favoritism. Basically, James said, “Don’t do it!”

Why haven’t we learned?

The Greatest Message of All

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”


When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told (Luke 2:1–20 NIV).

Searching for the Meaning of Worship

What is the state of worship today? What is the state of worship at your church? How about with you personally?

For too many people, worship has been captured by a tourist mind set. Let me explain that. For these people, worship is understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure. We go as convenient, by our schedule, according to what fits our needs, desires, and wants. We simply “tour” what takes place.

For others, worship is just a weekly jaunt to church—no real meaning to it, just more of a ritual, something you have to do. It’s Sunday, you are supposed to be in church. If you aren’t, the devil will get you!

For others, worship means an occasional visit to a special service—Easter, Christmas, a holiday celebration, a special musical, etc. You know, large crowds, unfamiliar faces coming to soak up the specialness of the moment and season.

Some people, with a bent for Christian entertainment and sacred diversion, plan their lives around special events like retreats, rallies, and conferences. These people go to see a new personality, to hear a new truth, to get a new experience and so, somehow, expand their otherwise humdrum lives.

Isn’t it sad that we will try anything—until something else comes along?

Do any of those descriptions of worship describe your attitude toward worship? Your church’s attitudes?

A look at the original language of the Bible and the origin of the word in English helps us understand the meaning of worship. The primary Hebrew word for worship is Shachah—which means “to depress, i.e. prostrate (in homage to royalty or God): bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.”

There are three Greek words that describe worship. First, Proskuneo—meaning “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand, to fawn or crouch to, homage (do reverence to, adore): worship.” That word occurs 59 times in the New Testament. It originally carried with it the idea of subjects falling down to kiss the ground before a king or kiss their feet.

Secondly, Sebomai—“to reverence, hold in awe.” This word is used 10 times in the New Testament.

Thirdly, Latreuo—“to render religious service of homage.” This word is used 21 times in the New Testament.

The word in the English language literally means to ascribe worth to something.

As you think about going to a service of worship today, whether you have yet to go or already been, do those words describe what you anticipate taking place or what took place? Or, was the activity of a worship service just that, an activity?

I hope you will spend some time in thinking about the genuine meaning of worship, both individually and corporately. I will be praying for you as you do.