Pursuit

I watched an amazing clip from Jason Upton yesterday. 

He talked about Native American believers and how many times they don’t understand why we do things the way we do.  I cannot do his words justice – and I would be ridiculous to even try.  I can only say that I was overwhelmed.  And am still.

You can find Jason’s page here.

Even as I sit here and type this, I feel the tears welling in my eyes. 

Why do we try to worship such an amazing God in ways that make us feel comfortable?  We build our churches, and we build our ministries – our own little personal kingdoms.  We filter our responses to God through what we deem as appropriate.  And yet He tells us so plainly in Isaiah, (55:9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  So why do we seek to bring Him to our level? 

Why?  I think it’s because it’s easier for us to manage.  There is no confrontation when things are comfortable.  There is no conviction when our view of Jesus is compromised.  We can manage just fine.  It seems to me that so many times we try our best to force our Redeemer into this little box that fits our own comfort.  I’ve done it.  I’ve caught myself doing it.  I’ve had to repent.  What an amazing, incredible, overwhelming God we serve.  Why would I give Him what I deem appropriate instead of what He deserves?

Does it make any sense to the worldly natural mind that the Creator would enter His own creation, through a young girl (Luke 2)?

  Is it logical to the mind of reason for the only One capable of redeeming the heart of all humanity to submit Himself as a servant (John 13:5-17)? 

 To be a Child (Luke 2:41)? 

To humble Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil 2:8)? 

None of these things are logical to the rational mind?  That’s why Jesus said on so many occasions, “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.”

And still, we do what we want – we give what we choose – we offer the things we decide are appropriate.  And we tell people that their experience with God might have just been a figment of their own imagination.  The truth is, God is so much greater than our boxes.  He’s bigger than our sanctuaries.  He’s greater than our own visions of grandeur.  His grandeur was a stable.  His victory was through a cruel, bloody cross. 

We build our sanctuaries, and yet He inhabits the praises of His people.  Are those praises confined to the crisp painted walls and throne room-esque places we have set up for corporate worship?  Sadly, for some they are.  Some of the most amazing architecture happens to be the historic cathedrals of Europe, and yet God does not dwell there. 

Think about it – David was never permitted to build a temple!  David was a warrior/king who worshipped.  Solomon built a temple that was the pinnacle of splendor in its day.  But David was the man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22).

Jason went on to say that the Native Americans have a tendency to see God in ways that the typical American church cannot.  They see Him in creation!  My mind wandered.  I’d imagine that they see Him as the One who soars like an eagle, and roars like a lion, and rages like a mighty warrior violently engaging His enemy. 

And then I thought about our liturgy, and Sunday tendencies.  Our most common expressions to Him are in response to Jesus as King.  And that He ABSOLUTELY is!  But think about it – our sanctuaries are a lot like a common version of a throne room.  There is a platform, or central focus, where the leaders address the people.  As people, we come together and worship in a throne room fashion.  We’ve encouraged our version of propriety, and appropriate restraint.  This got me thinking about what appropriate etiquette and protocol is in a throne room.  So I googled it and found amazingly, it reflects many of our liturgical ceremonies today.    

Now, before you think I’m saying that this model is wrong, please know that I am not.  I’m saying, that I’m starting to understand how incomplete it is… (though I do believe that our version of propriety might be askew, and restraint in worship expression is NEVER condoned in scripture.  After all – consider David’s dance before the Lord as the ark came into Jerusalem, and Miriam’s dance after the nations baptism through the Red Sea).

The entire point comes down to this –

In our pursuit of God, we must reject the idea of Sunday Christianity, and begin to engage with Him in ALL life.   

Let’s lay aside the schizophrenic behavior that screams duplicity!  Let’s focus on Jesus everyday.  Let’s respond to Jesus.  Let’s pray, and seek, and worship in EVERYTHING we do.  Let’s honor God.  Let’s live our lives as a reflection of Jesus, and then pursue a deeper relationship with Him.  Let’s get rid of our parameters and boundaries!  Let’s ASSUME He desires to meet with, bless, heal, save, deliver, commune with, and LIVE with His people!  And let’s assume that He is not bound to only show Himself on a Sunday morning when the music is right. 

And when we feel Him, let’s take a minute to wait on the Lord.  Let’s assume He’s quite capable of being found outside of the walls of our man made buildings.  His sanctuary (Hebrews 8:1-2)- the true tabernacle was built by God, and not man. 

 (this is our Father's world)

I’d be willing to bet that there would be a lot more revelation in the Church if we would just stop and listen and wait when we feel Him near.  Not just in the church – but everywhere.  Can you imagine – if the revelation and awareness increased just by stopping when we noticed His attention on us, what would happen if we, as a body, actually pursued God in all His charactersitcs - instead of ONLY as King…

He is:

In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our High Priest
Numbers, The fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
Judges, law giver
In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer
First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign

Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, He's the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song

In Proverbs, wisdom's cry
Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream

In Isaiah, He's Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He's the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire

In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He's the Spirits power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He's the great missionary

In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our fountain

In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He's the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin

Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servants heart
In Colossians, He's the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He's our mediator and our faithful Pastor

In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, he is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of kings and Lord of lords

The Prince of Peace
The Son of man
The Lamb of God
The great I AM

He's the alpha and omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord(Jeoffrey Benward & Jeff Silvery)