Saturday, June 2, 2012

How do we honor God?


 Are we honoring God by whining and complaining all the time?  As Christians are we always down and out, sad, and complaining about our lot in life.  Are we fretting over things and circumstances in our lives that we have no business doing so?  Do we claim to have given it to God but in reality have not or if we have, do we keep taking it back.

Why be so down in the face why so distraught?  Why want people to pity you all the time; oh woe is me, my life is oh so difficult, you have no idea.

Dwelling on it, well actually, not dwelling on the situation at hand it's just being used as an excuse for attention and for people to say, oh you poor soul, I sympathize with you.  All the time it’s the same thing time after time after time.

You say you’ve given it to God, but in reality you have not, you just want to wallow in self pity and pull others down with you.   On the other side of that you sit in silence with self pity and wonder why no one talks to you, no one comforts you.  Sitting in silent self absorption, allowing yourself to be drowned by your sorrows and the difficulties of your life.  Oh poor, poor pitiful me no one cares no one loves me, oh how I suffer all alone.

 Do you really think Jesus suffered and died for us to be miserable?  Do you really believe that Jesus didn't enjoy his life while here on earth?  Think about it, he went to weddings, dinner parties and all the feast.  Do you really think he would have had so many followers if he wasn't an upbeat and charismatic person?  Spreading good news everywhere he went, how can anyone share good news when they are down and out, depressed and gloomy all the time.

Ok , how about this; you just found out some really fantastic news and you are really excited about it and want to share it with everyone you know, you can hardly contain yourself.  You call your best friend and she can hear in your voice that something great has happened and can’t wait to hear.  “Guess what, guess what” you say with excitement.

“What, what," she can’t wait to hear.  I’m going to be a grandma, (or I got the promotion, I got approved, (you fill in the blank), then you proceed to tell them all about it.  They ask questions and share your joy and excitement, then congratulate you; they want you to keep them updated on how things are going.

Or are you going to do this; you call your friend and she hears in your voice that you’re sad or down and ask what’s wrong.  You say with a groan and a sigh, “oh I just found out I’m going to be a grandma, or got the promotion etc.  I don’t know if I can handle being a grandmother, (handle the promotion, or payments, etc)  Your friend will probably say something like this; “Oh, (shocked that you’re not excited) sorry to hear that and then try to get off the phone with you as quickly as possible and wonder what in the world is wrong with you.

Jesus came to give us life and give it more abundantly (John 10:10)  Do not think that when he taught the people that he wasn’t excited about his message.  I’m sure he was very excited about it.  If you really think that Jesus didn’t enjoy life while he was here, you might want to rethink that. 

How about this; everywhere he went he made new friend, got to travel the land and see all the beauty.  Was always being invited to dinner, went on picnics, shared the good news.  Went boating and if the water got too rough he calmed them down.  Ha went to cookouts on the beach for breakfast with his closest friends.  Enjoyed quiet times with his friends, played with the children, probably even tumbled around with them in the grass, run around playing tag or whatever.  (have you ever played with children, got down on the floor and tumbled around with them, giving them piggy back rides or lifting them up on the bottom of your feet so they could pretend they were an airplane, etc.  Lots of fun)
And all the while enjoying what his father had given him he always took time to be alone with God the father to commune with him and listen to what he had to say.

Jesus is the life (John 14:6), how can someone not enjoy life when there is so much beauty and wonder to behold.  How could Jesus possibly give us his joy, if he was miserable, how could he give us peace if he had none, how could he give us life if he wasn’t lively. 

Do you think by self suffering that brings honor to God?  Do you think by wallowing in self pity this makes God happy?  Do you think by speaking negative thoughts to yourself or anyone else God is please with this.  And do you think sucking the life out of others because you choose to be miserable honors God.

No, it does not, Jesus came to give us life and give it abundantly (John 10:10) we should be so full of life that is spills over to others, so others come to us and want to be with us and want what we have.  Being full of life attracts others, they want what you have.

If people flee from you it’s because you are sucking the life out of them and no one likes that.  Others run from folks like that and avoid them as best they can.  Be a life giver not a life taker, you’d be surprised the difference in your life when you start to honor God and make Him the center of your life and let His spirit fill you.  You can give and do so much more when you let Jesus live his life through you.

It’s your chose, you can choose life or you can choose death (Deuteronomy 30:19).  Jesus said “Behold I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:20).    Let God live his life through you, you won’t regret it.