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Yet tragically, as Christians we talk a whole lot more about our DUTY before God, than
about DELIGHT in God. But delight in God IS our duty! (Ps. 37:4; 100:2; Phil. 4:4)
"But don't we honor those we dutifully serve?" you may ask. Not much. If we contribute food or money to our relative for a custom, and he asks, "Why did you do this?" the answer that honors him most is "Because nothing makes me happier than to be with you today." However to say, "It's my duty" dishonors him. It simply makes him a needy beneficiary, and we the generous benefactor.
It is a great evil to come to God with our duty only, thus treating Him like some poor relative, and we the generous aunt or uncle.
On the west coast of Babeldaob, at the end of a long channel, is the village of Ngerdmau. A stream flows through the village from a spring miles inland. I heard stories about a beautiful, high waterfall at the source of the stream somewhere deep in the jungle where the water was
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pure and cold.
One day I followed a child as we literally ran for over one hour following the stream to its source. I was hot, tired, and thirsty when we crawled through the brush and pushed back the elephant grass to see a gorgeous waterfall in a huge valley.
The glory of living water is that it quenches thirst. I would not honor the refreshing pure water of that spring in Ngerdmau by lugging buckets back to the village. I honor the spring by getting down on my knees and drinking with joy. Then I say, "Ahhhh!" (that's worship) and then I go on my journey home in the strength of the pure spring fountain (that's service). The waterfall is most honored when I am satisfied with its water.
When we come to God's presence through His Word in prayer and song, and we don't feel in our heart any longing or sorrow or hope or fear or joy or gratitude, we can perform our duty--sit, stand, sing, and pray--all at the right times, but it will not be real worship. We cannot honor God when our
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"heart is far from Him."
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Are you?
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Ps. 73:25-26 U
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Sermon on the Mount -1
Matt. 5:3-16
Introduction
Jesus had been ministering to crowds of people, healing all kinds of serious illnesses and driving out demons. His fame spread to the point that He was being followed by great
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crowds. One day Jesus went up on a mountainside to teach the crowds. He sat up above them where they could see and hear
Him. His disciples gathered around His feet. Jesus' teaching was first of all for His disciples whom He was training, but also for the crowds who had gathered from all the towns around.
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Jesus sat in this outdoor "church" on a rock "pulpit" and delivered probably the greatest sermon ever preached. He had been preaching the same message that John the
Baptist had preached: "Repent
for the kingdom of heaven is near". Now in the Sermon on the Mount He described in
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