“You Never Know”

“You Never Know”

You never know when someone
might catch a dream from you.
Or something you say may open up the windows
of a mind that seeks light;
The way you live may not matter at all,
But you never know, it might.

And just in case it could be
that another’s life, through you,
might possibly change for the better
with a better and brighter view,
it seems it might be worth a try
at pointing the way to the right;
Of course, it may not matter at all,
but then again, it might.
-unknown

 Sometimes sacrifices seem tough, but in the end, they are not so bad.  “You Never Know” when something will matter and make a difference in someone’s life.

Listen to what Paul told the people trying to get him to stay out of Jerusalem.

Acts 21:12-14

“12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

That’s sacrifice…all of a sudden, some things don’t seem so bad.

God Bless!

Evaluation and observation

As I study scripture, I have found myself evaluating my personal worship.   What am I truly offering Father God in worship.

I was led to Malachi chapter one.  This chapter talks about quality offerings and sacrifices.   

So, I started asking myself about my quality of offerings and sacrifices. 

Am I serious enough? 

I too serious?  

 Am I aware of what God really wants from me? 

 Am I focused enough to hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit? 

Do I truly understand worship? 

Do I truly engage in worship at church or do I let the thoughts of others hold me back?  

Has church become just a routine or a true worship experience? 

Now, I do not ask these questions to be critical of my walk.  I am not beating myself up for lack of intent.   These are just observations that need to be kept in check.

Here is the scripture that I referred to in Malachi from the Message.

 5“Yes, take a good look. Then you’ll see how faithfully I’ve loved you and you’ll want even more, saying, ‘May God be even greater, beyond the borders of Israel!’

 6“Isn’t it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I’m your Father, where’s the honor? If I’m your Master, where’s the respect?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: “You priests despise me!

   ”You say, ‘Not so! How do we despise you?’

   ”By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship.

   ”You ask, ‘What do you mean, “defiling”? What’s defiling about it?’

 7-8“When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.

 9“Get on your knees and pray that I will be gracious to you. You priests have gotten everyone in trouble. With this kind of conduct, do you think I’ll pay attention to you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.

 10“Why doesn’t one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don’t want any more of this so-called worship!

Offering God Something Hand-Me-Down,

    Broken, or Useless

 11“I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me. They’re saying it everywhere: ‘God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.’

 12-13“All except you. Instead of honoring me, you profane me. You profane me when you say, ‘Worship is not important, and what we bring to worship is of no account,’ and when you say, ‘I’m bored—this doesn’t do anything for me.’ You act so superior, sticking your noses in the air—act superior to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! And when you do offer something to me, it’s a hand-me-down, or broken, or useless. Do you think I’m going to accept it? This is God speaking to you!

 14“A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I’m a great king, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I’ll not put up with it!”

I do not want to bring “puny and worthless” offerings to Father God.

I want HIS presence evident in my life and in my church!

God Bless