…are no different than any other time in the church’s history…just read Paul’s Letter in the second chapter.
Yesterday morning was one of the most dynamic worship experiences in my life. If you were in church yesterday, you know exactly what I was talking about. If you were not, you missed out and we missed you. It was amazing to feel the presence of God, the whole morning, in both our worship services here at the church!
Was it the worship in the park, or the worship in the sanctuary, or the special music? Nope none of those were the home-run! Those things loaded the bases yesterday, but it was Pastor David’s sermon that hit a ball that hasn’t landed yet.
The book of Ephesians is a great book, but the second chapter really brings home the messages that Paul intended for the church to hear in Ephesus, but also today…
Pastor David said it best when he said…
“Paul says sin is all around us and the influence of sin in our lives becomes a barrier between us and God. Without God in our lives, we are spiritually dead. Without God to influence our decisions and guide our actions, we are easily influenced by the ways of the world. Without the presence of God to direct us, we give in to temptation and we fall into sin.”
Now that is a loaded statement, but very true and has led me to ask many questions in my heart yesterday and today.
Where am I not letting God into my life?…
Where am I not letting God influence my decisions?…
Where am I not letting God guide my actions?…
Where am I not letting God direct my life?…
Now each one of the statements/questions has the word “MY” in it. Is that a coincidence or is that us saying, “God, it’s mine not yours.”
But have we ever really thought about how little we let God into our issues, decisions, actions, and direction? The only times we let God into our lives is when we are having a moment when we cannot take care of ourselves.
In the book “The Gospel According to the Simpson’s”, Mark Pinsky states that Homer Simpson is the typical Christian…The only time he ever calls upon God is when he is in trouble. Ding, Ding, Ding we have a winner…
Does that not describe you and me to the tee? It is gut wrenching to think, but I know I have done it many times before. Paul told the church in Ephesus that this was happening to them and it is happening today. We have shut God out of our decisions, actions, and life until we have come to a point of no return or a point that we are in above our heads.
It happens to all of us. I had that moment last week…I had one last month…and I probably will have one next week…unless I/we truly correct ourselves…
So the questions are…
Where are YOU and I letting God into our lives?…
Where are YOU and I letting God influence our decisions?…
Where are YOU and I letting God guide our actions?…
Where are YOU and I letting God direct our lives?…
Brian “The” Faust
