Home Sweet Simple Home

A Humble Reminder

Anytime you feel you are not learning anything from a sermon or a Bible teacher, you should check your attitude, especially for pride, because God can speak through even the most boring teacher when you are humble and receptive. [excerpt from Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren]

James 1:21b states “In a humble spirit, receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted in your hearts contains the power to save your souls.”

I have tucked this quote & scripture reminder into my Bible for quick reference. Too often I get in the mode that church is for me; to uplift, encourage and challenge me. I think- hey this is boring and/or not relevant to me and I start planning my grocery list or thinking on what needs to be done @ home. Shame on me for doing so! Church/worship is not for me in that way- it is for me in that I am coming to give God ALL my worship and ALL my praise. I am not there for my own self but to publicly say “God, I choose you. I love you. I worship you.” Yes, church is for teaching and preaching but how often do we find ourselves bored or tuning out? Too often, I think. We go in with the mindset of what we need to get out of the service instead of what we can put into it. Now, don’t get me wrong- we do need to “get something out of it” but we also need to put something into it too- like our attention. I pray that my heart will be open and receptive to God’s Word and my heart would be softened. I pray that I will be a light even in my church [not just outside of it] and an encouragement to others. Sometimes when I look out at my church family on a Sunday morning, I think they turn their lights out when they walk in or their week’s work has blown out their lights. Sometimes this can happen to us but I don’t believe we should be walking into church defeated and “blown out” every week. Where is the joy in that? If your light only gets re-lit on Sunday, what do you do if it burns out on Tuesday? That’s a long wait. Church is corporate worship- it is to come along side of our private daily worship. That daily worship is where we “work” to keep our lights lit and bright.

Do you know the song- This Little Light of Mine?

This little light of mine, IÂ’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, IÂ’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

We need to come to church with our lights shining- ready to hold them up to God and to help light those who come in without them.

Well, thatÂ’s my two cents, today.

Untitled Comment

10:10 PM, 2006-Jan-27 .. Posted by DonnaJoy

This really spoke to me - I too can let my mind roam and think well - this doesn't really pertain to me and like you I start to do other things. I think I too will put this verse in my bible!!
thanks
Donna