Do we compartmentalize God?  This is a confession, and a general observation.

On Sunday morning at our church gatherings when music is played, it is about God.  This may seem like a silly question, but why?  Why is that?  It's very intentional in proclaiming God, singing to God, about God, and for God.  Why?  The music choice is very specific in that way. We would all be pretty shocked and even rightfully offended to hear an AC/DC, Katie Perry, or some other famous musician’s song played during Sunday morning worship. But, is Tuesday morning not supposed to be filled with worship?  Is that not the time to worship God?  Not now, Lord… wait for Sunday morning.  I’ll give you your day.  Is not Thursday evening His?

So when we listen to music (as an example) during all the other times in our life, how are we expressing that worship?  Is it consistent, or have we compartmentalized God for His special God time and God place? Do we set aside God worship for Sunday morning, Wednesday evening, or some other special time set apart for Him? Not that we shouldn't set special alone time apart for God in solitude, away from our daily distractions—that is something else.  Of course we should do that as often as we can and need to.

How do we compartmentalize God—to subtly make little of Him?

We might say things likes “my sports life”, or “work life”, or “political life”, or “social life”, or perhaps “family life” and whatever other life we may make distinction of?  What do we mean exactly?  The most important thing here is to not get hung up on terms, but to honestly ask ourselves—do I isolate God?  Is our sports life in some way disconnected from our family life?  Is our work life somehow disconnected from our spiritual life?  We may be looking at this all wrong.

“Yes, but”, someone will say, “My work life *is* distinct from my family life.  I cannot be with my family when I’m at work.  For all intents and purposes I have no interaction with my family when I am at work.”  Perhaps this would be a true distinction, if the only way you served your family was by face-to-face, direct interaction.  But, if you are called to work to support your family as most families do have at least one person who is, then really that is an extension of your family life.  Whether in close proximity working in the yard while the kids are napping, or working downtown while the kids are in school.  Even so, there may be some true distinction in this thinking because all of us are finite.  Our spouse, our kids, our coworkers, our neighbors—we are all very much not omnipresent.  Again, not to get hung up on terms, we’ll say maybe that’s just fine so long as we aren't neglecting those we should love in doing so.  Most importantly, so long as we aren't isolating God to His room, to await His special time we allow Him to have an impression on our lives.

The main danger I seek to root out is the thinking of setting certain “lives” aside apart from God, as compartments that are our own unique territories somehow isolated from the calling of God; my sports life, my family life, my work life, my church life, and my spiritual life—even my prayer life.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1st Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Do we treat God like our lives are a microwave dinner?  We pick and choose what He will touch, when, and how.  Complete with all of its separate little compartments, designed not to mix until we choose to bring them together at the appointed time in our stomach?  See, we aren't meant to be microwave TV dinners; corn over here, mashed potatoes over there, molten lava brownie in the corner, and our main dish steeped in gravy (Salisbury steak because we can all agree, it is the best).  Now that I've either made you hungry or a little sick… hear this Psalm and be renewed.

Psalm 139:7-12
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.

Do you hear the heart in this Psalm?  Do you see what he is saying?  Rather than microwave dinners with our own little compartments, isolated from the good gravy of God’s Spirit, we are better off to be mindful of God as this Psalm shows us in every aspect of our life—to be like a hot stew wrapped with the constant savor of the juices of worship throughout every bite, immovably woven throughout every single savor—a chicken pot pie.

Do we reserve the worship of God for Sunday mornings?  What do we choose to listen to throughout the rest of the week?  Do we have special God music for Sunday morning—a time when our Monday through Saturday music isn't played, only to bust out the non-Sunday morning worship music for our own time the other six days of the week?  Do we have a special attitude we save for Sunday morning where we elevate God in our hearts in a special way, which we do not present the rest of the week?  Do we have a special way of thinking and talking on Sunday morning that only leaves us Monday morning when we go to work?  It ought to not be so.

Inviting God into everything is a submission of our will, more than giving God permission.

Let us be so engrossed in the savor of God that we delight in Him always.  Let us say as the psalmist says, “Where shall I go from Your Spirit!?”  May God be holy all the time, and no more or less holy to us on Sunday morning than He is on Tuesday afternoon.  And may He be utterly holy.  That is my desire.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Do You Have Enough Faith to Stay in the Boat?

What if Jesus replied to Peter, "don't come", or simply never responded with the specific command to come?

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:27-31 ESV)"

If Jesus didn't give the command to come, then I suggest it would have taken faith--not just more faith, but faith period--to remain in the boat.

Notice that none of the other apostles who remained in the boat were charged with lacking faith--only Peter was charged with being of "little faith".  Did not those who stayed in the boat, lack faith?  It might seem so... so why be so "hard" on Peter about lacking faith?  He did walk on water after all, and that seems pretty amazing.  None of the others did that.  Why not call them out and charge them with a lack of faith?

Here is the thing.  Faith is not making great and wondrous efforts. Faith is heeding the Word of your Lord.

Do you--do I--desire to have faith? We must seek the the Word of our Lord. All other "faith" is not faith, but is counterfeit.  Has he not called you out of the boat?  Then don't think that to walk on water would take great faith.  Keep your gaze on Him, and He will give you the Word you need to have great faith.

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So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17 ESV)

Finding Your Outer Strength

The overwhelming modern way of thinking and teaching in society is that we must find inner strength.  You are your own power source.  You are your own powerhouse of will, happiness, greatness, and power.  Great things await you when you believe in yourself!  Within yourself is all that you need.  Just pick yourself up by your bootstraps.

God's Word could not be more contrary.  Is it any surprise?  No... but it still should be said.

In 2 Corinthians 12:10 it is written...

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
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This is no form of thought you will find in any self-help book, or motivational speaking event.  What does it mean when Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes, "when I am weak, then I am strong."?

He is alluding to a strength simply not found in self.  You don't have what it takes to be strong.  If you think you do, you are actually weak.  In fact, it is in emptying himself of himself, that he is made strong--not from within, but from without, by God.

Jesus echos this same teaching when he says "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25)

Have you found your outer strength?

Characteristics of a godly man cave (Psalm 57)

Psalm 57 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

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It's a place...

-for crying [out to God], for his mercy and refuge - v.1-2

-for hope in God's salvation from many worldy enemies that seek to destroy us - v.3-4

-God's glory is exalted and proclaimed - v.5

-nets and pits set to entrap our souls are called out; humble remembrance and hope for how God deliverers out of them all - v.6

-hearts are directed to the steadfast love of God; in response, singing may break out or looked forward to in hope - v.7-10

-Finally, it is a place where God is exalted above all else; there is a display of hope for His glory filling the whole Earth - v.11

(Also see Psalm 142)

Support Your Local Church By Supporting the Body of Christ (avoid divisions)

• ⁴For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:4-8) [also see 1 Cor 12:14-30]

It is natural and good for finite saints like us to be invested in a local body of believers.  Whether that is a church or even group of partner churches.  Just as it is likewise natural and good for us to be invested in the care of our own single physical body God has given us to feed and maintain.

It is of great consideration and concern, however, when our fellowship with the global body (those outside of our local churches) is seen as a threat such that we smother, truncated, or cut it off because of our zeal for that local church.

It is not the local body that is "one body".  That view is far, far too narrow.  The one body spoken of in Scripture, we absolutely must not forget, is in fact not local but global.  The body of Christ is the global body of Christ outside your district, city, state, country, and all around the word.  And, it includes the local church we are able to be a part of.

To cut off our fellowship among those not considered part of our local church (those who are in fact a part of the global body), for threat of them stealing us away from the local body... is a cancerous thought, which itself needs cut off.

This kind of non-Biblical thinking will only isolate us from the actual body of Christ. We need to love the entire body.

What if I say, "I alone am the body of Christ."?  This most offensive statement is easily rejected when I have excluded everyone but myself from the body.  On an individual level it is clear, but is more subtly accepted on the level of the local church we become invested in.  How else have we become so divided as a body in this present age, with so many denominations, groups, programs of various churches within a few blocks of one another?

The idea that fellowship outside of our local church is a divisive threat to our local church, is itself a divisive thought.

Do we often feel as though we cannot associate with others outside our local church for very long?  Do we move on quickly and push on by others of another church, for fear we will sway allegiance or would be disloyal to our local church?--it shouldn't be so.  Do we end relationships with those outside our local church (or within) because we fear someone is walking a contrary path by fellowshipping outside of our local church?  Do we shun or raise concern when someone in our local church we may know--having not shown any concern for anything anti-Gospel--is often involved with another church body's members?  Do we fear if they continue on their current path that we might lose them?  Then we ourselves are in danger of being the ones who are alienating the Body of Christ--not them.

In our zeal for our local church we may be the ones isolating ourselves outside of functioning in the Body of Christ (if we have not already).

Do we want to support our local church?  Good!  Do not seek to isolate yourself from the Body of Christ.  In the name of supporting that local church, do not neglect the body of Christ, which is beyond your neighborhood, city, state, or zip.  It is global.  Let's not feel odd when associating with those outside our local church.  Do not consider ourselves (or others) as subverting authority or the calling of God.  If it is the body of Christ then it is the body of Christ.  Support your local church by supporting the global body of Christ.

• But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. ² I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, ³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? ⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. ⁹ For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. (1 Cor 3:1-9)

Is God a Tyrant for Commanding Worship?

I am the Lord; that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to carved idols

(Isaiah 42:8)

Why is God so unwilling to share glory with another?  Why would God many times and places, instruct man to worship Him alone? Look up at the heavens, and consider the work of His fingers.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4 ESV)

Consider that there are trillions of stars in the known universe.  These stars are light years apart and spread throughout the universe.  Some stars known as "Hypergiants", are 3,600 times the diameter of our Sun.  To reiterate--there are trillions of stars, light years apart, and many of them dwarf the Sun or Earth.  God placed them all with His fingers.

We understand also that the stars are relatively young.  That is, the stars were created along with man.  So the command to worship Him alone is very old--before the stars and before mankind--before we were, God was.  So consider this command to worship Him, as an intervention in our futility.  Long before mankind understood anything about the vastness of the stars beyond a pretty twinkle in the sky, the command went out before mankind to worship Him and no other.

When we observe honestly the work of His fingers, what we find in this command to worship Him alone, is MERCY.

This command was not just the shouting of a worship hungry God, or the tirades of a glory hound drunk with power--He is the God who predates such foolish thoughts about Him.  He is the God Who places the trillions of stars in all of their vastness and massiveness, with His fingers; His fingers!  And, in His mercy, He has passed along the instruction and information--this command--"Worship Me alone."

He is mindful of you.

Understand the unwavering position of God to not share glory with another, is GENEROSITY.

In this command, God is no glory hound.  There is simply nothing else worthy in all of the universe, or without.  God knows this, and He wants us to know it.  God has been mindful of us in telling us this.  In our utter feebleness He has intervened in our hopeless state and darkened futile minds, telling us, "Here I am!  Worship Me alone!  I alone am worthy of all of your worship!  I will share glory with no other!"

Obey this command... receive His mercy...

Boring Bible?

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. (‭Daniel‬ ‭9‬:‭1-2‬ ESV)

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I think it is a pretty fair thing to say that Daniel was a pretty studious Scripture reader, and had read Jeremiah's words end to end multiple before.  But in chapter 9 of Daniel we see that he perceives something new for the first time ever. I wonder if maybe it wasn't simply a matter of reading it enough times that he finally broke through and perceived it (though maybe there is a case for that?), but simply the Lord's timing for him to perceive it.

Do you read the Bible and sometimes feel like you read something new?  It was there all along and you read it before, but you just never perceived it until now and it is new to you for the first time.  It is the fact it was there all along that makes it even more glorious.  Within the context of God's Word, of course, you discovered something new.  That is one benefit of serving the Living God.  How great is that, really? The Bible can never be boring. Only we are the ones who are boring when we approach the Bible boringly.

He has given us all the opportunity to share in the glory of kings.

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It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭2‬ ESV)