Fill in the blank, “I could do _________ if I only had the time and/or
money.” Think of what you most like to do, and then think of why you cannot.
For many of us it was “I’ll have kids when I can afford them,” and after having
them realize you never could have saved enough. And had them anyway. For one
it may be “I’ll buy the car of my dreams when I have enough to pay cash,” and
every year the car gets more expensive or is replaced by something different.
Yet for another it is taking that dream vacation, If only they had the time, two
weeks a year are never enough, or the money, thinking enough credit cards just
might make the trip affordable. But in each case they come up with excuses, and
never see the dream come true. But the saddest one is when someone claims or is
called into ministry, then complains the whole time. They don’t have the time,
they don’t have the money, it interferes with their life style, didn’t God hear
their prayers of what they wanted to do? The two days a month they had for him
in their schedule? How he better come through, so they start soliciting for
money? And end up never doing what they believe God calls them to, and end up
miserable. And you know the drill, God gets the blame. It is never our
fault....
Two kids, a house, and many vacations later, add in an active ministry for
over 10 years, I have learned to depend on God. He knows my heart better than I
do, and when he is the desire of my heart, I get him as the biggest blessing.
He blesses my wife and sons, he blesses me with motorcycles, and he blesses me
with time to ride and travel. 43 nights later on the road last year, I cannot
wait to leave town, the state, and the time zone for touring. So I make plans,
and in doing so put my desires before him. And as they go, and we go, we have
become flexible with them. Reservations made months ahead change, as conditions
and new places to travel become available. Days get added, days get subtracted,
states are bypassed, while others added. We see God’s hand in our travels, he
has given us a desire for certain things, and then fulfills that desire along
the way. He is included in our plans, and by making our desires known, we have
prayed and asked, and then watch as his answer unfolds. A form of trust,
planning, adapting, customizing, and then doing. God has the time, and he has
the funds. Jesus spent most of his ministry on the road. So who better to
consult about traveling, or when traveling? Who else has the budget, the funds,
and the control over the weather? So what is you excuse for not filling in
that blank in Christ?
Worship and being a witness of Jesus Christ is the same thing. How you
worship him shows where he is in your life. Some keep him that box only on
Sunday called church, some live him daily. One of the saddest days was when
visiting a brother in law’s office, the secretary and I started talking Jesus.
When I mentioned my BIL was one too, she looked surprised, “not by his actions
and attitudes around here.” I wish I had never mentioned it. I even lost the
best paying job of my life once, for being a Christian. I was the highest
producer, had high CSI ratings, yet I was told “it only makes sense not to bring
God to work. Leave him at the door.” It hurt in lots of ways, money wise, my
income went to zero, I was painting my house, for $4500, and still had a high
overhead. I had no money but lots of time, and God opened up the door for
Torches Across America, and in the midst of all this bad news, blessed me
abundantly with a three week trip, including Theresa taking off work with no
pay. When he is the desire of your heart, he will give you that desire via your
life.
Worship can be corporate, but it also should be personal. Mary sitting at
the feet of Jesus and washing them with expensive oils, shows her love and
adoration in worship to him. The same precious oils Judas claimed could have
been sold and fed the poor, he accused her of wasting on Jesus. Yet she knew
better, way beyond an emotion. He had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead,
she understood what he represented in the resurrection, and it had changed her
heart. Also the incredible teaching she had at his feet, she was now trusting
him more. So she spared no expense in worshipping him, openly which was
forbidden for women in public, letting her hair down, another social infraction,
and openly worshipping Jesus. She spared no expense in worshipping him, that is
true worship, sparing no expense. Which is how love and worship act.
So fill in the blank, “I don’t worship Jesus publicly because ______.”
Whatever your reason, it comes down to who he is, and by your worship, tell us.
If open about Jesus, showing his love to others, you show how he has changed
you. If you only worship in church, you may have a good church life, but have
holes in your theology, he is missing in all your life, and it shows. We can
never pay back Jesus for what he has done, maybe living well is the best
revenge, and living in Jesus is the best. There is none other, and you will
never have the time or money enough. So start trusting today, as the spirit
guides, obey. He will never ask you to do anything he has not all ready
prepared you and your wallet for. Bound by time, include him in your schedule,
he never hurried yet was never late. You may find like I have he is the perfect
fill in the blank, _______ partner. From kids, to work, to church, to riding,
he knows my heart. Do you know his?
It doesn’t happen all at once, Mary was older when she saw what Jesus could
do, and changed her heart. Let Jesus fill in the blanks in your life.
Privately and publicly, he is still the way. When we begin to love and worship
Jesus without regard for the expense, our heart is transformed, and we begin to
live, really live. Or like the sign says, “In God we trust, all others pay
cash.” Worship is truly a heart transformed, expressing love to Jesus no matter
the cost. Start planning, start living, start worshipping. The best is yet to
come....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com