When I am out of synch (part 7)

 I can be doing what is right and good and still be out of synch. Year after year the Jews went to Jerusalem to the festivals of dedication and yet they still didn’t understand Jesus. (John 10:22) They were solemn, said the right words, (Numbers 7:1-89, 1 Samuel 8:65, II Chronicles 7:5-10) giving the right promises and even made the second dedication in Ezra 6:16-17. And yet they didn’t realize that Jesus was dedicated by God Himself when He was baptized. (Matthew 3:13-17)

When I am out of Synch (part 7)

God doesn’t want me to go to church to be going to church. He doesn’t want my checklist of good deeds. He wants me to be humble and contrite to recognize that I would be walking down the wrong road without Him and to praise Him for that. God doesn’t want us to not chase after the vanity of immediate gratification, regardless of whether it is outright sin and going against His will or whether it is indirectly related to sin even though in and of itself is not bad. (Romans 6:13) Because whatever we pursue we are always its slave. And if we do what is outside of God’s will we will be on the path to death. If on the other hand we pursue God we are servants to His holiness. (Romans 6:16) And He calls us to return and return and return so that He can provide for us. (R0mans 6:19)

When I am out of synch (part 6)

I am exhorted by the prophet Joel, as were the whole of Israel and as the entire church is, in Joel 1:14-15 and Joel 2:16-17 to bow before Him and sanctify and purify myself in Him because He is coming and His judgment is near. I am exhorted to plead for mercy and forgiveness and to humble myself before them. And not to follow anyone else. He is King. When I choose as His daughter to place anything above Him, it saddens Him. And although He still loves me, the choice has consequences. As all our choices do.

When I am out of Synch (part 5)

On the flip side, I cannot tell you what heartache my choices cause God. Heart felt pain, since He wants to be in charge and He wants me to come to Him when I make any decision big or small. (Isaiah 43:22-24) When do I most disappoint God? When do I show Him the most disrespect? When I follow the rules, whether unwritten or written during worship time, but don’t act that way every minute of every day. When my worship may be admirable but my heart remains my own. (Ezekiel 22:8) God doesn’t want me to offer the best sacrifice in the Temple, or say the most prayers, or lead the most spiritual songs, or preach the most “repent” sermons. He wants my mercy. Actually He wants me to display His mercy in addition to show I know Him. (Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24). He wants me, my heart, my mercy, and that comes from my faith, not my works. And my faith comes from my reaching for God.