Sunday, May 13, 2018

Adoration of God isn't optional or part time.

     We live in a world of part time everything:  part time parents, part time workers, part time pastors, part time sinners and etc...  As such we are full time failures at adoring the loving God who created us, cares for, protects and saves us.  To not adore God with all of our being means we have divided loyalties.  If we have divided loyalties, we are not living full time for God.  This concludes that you and I aren't living for God if we are living for someone or something else.  Can't go without your cigarette?  Your adoration goes there.  Can't go without your drink?  Your adoration goes there.  Can't go without lying?  Your adoration goes there.  Can't go without junk food, sports, and even church?  Your adoration goes there.  Adoration is not in the eye of the beholder.  Adoration is in the eye of God whom we are to be adoring.  To do anything less lets in the world and yes, there is your adoration.  Have you ever just sat and took in the presence of God so much that there was nothing in your heart and mind except God?  Maybe you are scared to go there.  Maybe you don't know how.  Maybe you have pastors and other church leaders who tell you that praising God and showing our adoration takes place on Wednesday nights and Sundays.  Well, they have lied to you.  That's their adoration and it doesn't have to be yours.  We don't have to be involved with rituals, compact hours of singing, giving, listening and singing.  That's called legalism and it's a sin.  Legalism in any form is found in those lives who don't fully give their lives to God.  Maybe that's you.
     Telling God all that we think about each partner in the Trinity takes intent.  It also takes time.  Yes, it also can be a ritual/legalism if you don't allow this to be a God directed event.  When you go to church your time with God is ordered by those directing the meeting.  That's exactly what you are not supposed to do.  The Bible is clear that we are to come away from the world and that's where we are to adore God.  This should be anytime the Spirit leads you to adoration.  Maybe he wakes you in the middle of the night and tells you to pray.  Always begin with adoration.  Maybe it's on the way to work in the middle of your commute.  Yes, it's always okay to pray with your eyes open.  Telling God all that he means to you separates you from all those thing that mean something to you.  Have you taught your children to adore God?  If not, you have sinned and caused them to sin.  Do you really take your relationship with God seriously and have His heart beating in you?  If not, you may not know Jesus at all.  Better get right with God.  Adoration focuses our entire being so that we are ready to be in the presence of God because he wants to have an intimate relationship with us as we should with him.  Do we even think about how much of our time is spent before sports, playing games, social media, drinking with the boys after work, and all the other events that steal us away from God.  It's no wonder the Christian church has chosen to be unable to carry out the will of God.  Someone else will do it has been the argument.  NO, if you don't do it, you don't serve God.  If you don't do it, you are sinning.  How many times would Christ have to die for you in order for you to take seriously his sacrifice?
     Resting in his presence is where adoration takes the serious God seeker.  That's where the peace that passes all understanding is found.  That is where our focus becomes sharpened so that tomorrow we fail less and less.  Resting in his presence is that place where everything but Jesus has been pushed out of our minds and we are at peace.  It may take minutes to get there or it may take hours.  That's up to God and not you.  How bad do you want to be in the arms of God?!  It's not a choice for the Christian but a command.  Lack of adoration means we don't adore God with all our hearts, souls and minds.  Remember this was the first commandment.  Love the Lord your God with all of your heart soul and mind.  Not some.  Not part time.  Not when we feel like it.  It means ALL the time.  Whether we wake or sleep, we wake or sleep in the Lord.  You can't be in love with part of Jesus.  It's either all or nothing.  I'm not making excuses for me and I certainly won't for you.  The final judgement will be where you and I are in front of God and shown our lives.  What will they show?  If you don't start with adoration, you won't have anything to pass onto others.  Go to a place where you can go before the Father and just begin telling him you love him.  Don't stop until you are empty.  Stay there till the peace comes and your heart is ready to be searched by the Holy Spirit.

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