Have you ever known someone who had a knack for saying the inappropriate? I’m talking about those people who say things to others and you just cringe and wish you could hide! My Dad was in the hospital a few years ago after a heart attack and had an Angioplasty procedure (“the balloon”) done to clear the blockage. That evening, after his procedure, a friend of my parents came into the hospital room to “visit.” He leaned against the wall and began talking about a friend of his who had a similar procedure done. He went through this long, detailed story and then paused. My Dad was pretty weak and I remember him asking in a faint voice, “What happened to him?” His friend answered, “Oh he’s dead! That balloon didn’t hold.” I saw the stunned look on my Dad’s face. Then the guy said, “Well I’ve got to go.” And out the door he went. So much for encouragement.
Each day, we make small and sometimes large decisons. In our best moments, we really want to make good decisons. We want to do or say what is appropriate.
I was just thinking about my upcoming week. A few meetings. Seeing various people to talk over where their lives are at this point. Speaking for a church between here and Austin. Taking our oldest daughter back to college. Seeing our youngest daughter begin school this week. If this week is like most, there will be a number of conversations with people that I am not even aware of yet. Too often, I just blow through the day–not really thinking about the moment. I don’t know about you, but when I do that, I often mess up. I say the wrong thing. Do the wrong think. I get focused on me.
What about your week? What do you anticipate? Does this look to be a usual or unusual week? What is going on with your family this week? Anything special that you know of at this point?
Do you know that worship is all about responding appropriately to God all the time? Seven days a week. On Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM there is an appropriate response that we make to God. But what about Monday? What about the decision that you are trying to make as to whether or not to purchase a larger house? What about your decision as a college student regarding the roommate that you are choosing? All of these issues and decisions need an appropriate response. I am called to respond appropriately in light of who I am before God and who he is.
I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
The question is always, “Will I worship God?” Am I making appropriate decisions as a worshiper of God? Does the financial decision that I just made reflect that he really is the one who I worship? Too often, I am afraid that when we think about responding to these various situations, we just do what we want. We rationalize that we are good people, involved at church, etc. and then we live self-centered lives. When we live this way we reveal the true object or our worship.
(The picture above is one of my favorite places. Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tn. overlooking the Tennessee River)