The comments below are centered in some thoughts I shared by email earlier this week with those who receive the CCC Daily Word. Should you like to receive those daily devotional emails just respond to jeff@connectionscc.org and let me know and I will add you to the distribution list.
The above verses are the beginning of what is commonly called The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) because Jesus shared these teachings from a hillside near Capernaum. Most scholars believe the sermon was given over an extended period of time, perhaps days.
Imagine sitting with Jesus on a hillside for several days—imagine hearing Him speak and explain the teachings of God ? If you believe that would be better than anything in this world then continue to read and obey His teachings and be found ready to sit with Him and listen to Him when He returns for His church.
Imagine sitting with Jesus in heaven and listening to Him speak—will you live for that opportunity today and every day of your life? I encourage you to listen to the song "I Can Only Imagine" by the group Mercy Me as it serves well to help us focus today on eternity.
The following link to the song may contain an ad before playing but I hope the lyrics and images will enhance your imagination and inspire you to continue to live for Jesus every day of your life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII&feature=kp
God's Peace,
Jeff
To be in the presence of Jesus - the real, physical presence of the Son of God - is beyond my thoughts. Wonderful, astounding, amazing, incredible - all these and more. The song does it justice.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet we have the Holy Spirit here with us now, another member of the trinity, and I don't often marvel at how wonderful and amazing this is. I think that's why adoration of God should be part of our prayers. Different than thanking Him - which is also good - adoration worships God for who He is.
As you said in a sermon a few weeks ago, this isn't a transaction. We should not praise God to get more stuff in the future, whether it is physical stuff or spiritual stuff. God is worthy of our praise, worship, and adoration not because of anything He has or will do, but just because of who He is.
The first part of Job 13:15 says "Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him.". Our worship of God should not be dependent on what He has done for us lately. We cannot judge "lately", because we only see things in the past and the present. God lives there, and in the future as well. We know that God is good and right and perfect, and He is worthy of our praise (Revelation 4:11).
All that to say: I agree with you!