We
have a phrase that’s very popular and even if the exact words aren’t used in
Christian circles, the idea is the same—fake it till you make it. Well, here’s what I think. Scripture speaks over and over again about
how God desires honesty of heart and how He hates empty, vain ritual. Am I saying we’ll feel like doing the things
of God all the time? Absolutely
not. But remember, honesty is prized by
God. There will be times when we just
don’t feel like doing a thing. But if we
do it anyway out of duty and obligation, secretly resenting it in our hearts,
that is a stinky thing to God. If we do
it because we are trying to be pious and “a good church member,” that is stinky
to God. BUT, if we do a thing even when
we don’t feel like it and we say to Him, “God, nothing in me wants to do this right now, but I am
doing it because I love You and I want to make Your heart happy”—that turns our
actions into a sacrifice of worship.
Sometimes we do things because we truly believe that if we don’t, no one
else will. Now, I’m not saying the
motivation is wrong, but there is a more perfect way. Ask God if He wants you to do it. Here’s the thing—too often we operate our
lives and our churches as if we are the ones who have to figure it out. If we don’t come through, no one else will,
so we’d better step up to the plate. But
what does that say? It says we don’t
believe God is up to the task. Or, that
we believe He set things into motion but it’s up to us to work out the
details. How many of you are doing
things in your everyday lives or in service to the church that you thought were
good ideas without asking God what He thought?
Yes, God gave us our brains and yes, He intends for us to use them, but
that does not in any way mean that He created the world and said to mankind,
“You’re on your own, now.” Bear in mind,
Jesus constantly said that He did nothing except what He saw the Father
doing. How do you think He saw what God
was doing? He was in constant
communication with Him. He was always
talking with Him and aware of the presence of His Spirit.
NOTE:
He didn’t say He did what He saw that the Father did, He said He did what
He saw the Father doing. God is constantly
working and moving. I always thought
Jesus was referring to what He experienced in heaven before He became
human. But He was talking about what He
constantly saw God doing while He was a human on earth.
