WHAT ARE YOU REALLY WORSHIPING?
- Key Verse
- "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
As citizens of the kingdom living on earth, we must not lose sight of what lies ahead. Remain faithful and obedient today, confident that God promises a reward so much greater than the fleeting treasures of this world.
Reflections
I find that songs say what I can't, and these words say it best:"The cry of my heart is to bring you praise
From the inside out, Lord, my soul cries out."
God desires His followers to worship "From the Inside Out," the song's title. Jesus sees straight through the Pharisees' law-abiding actions to their self-absorbed, world-loving hearts. He is warning followers against falling in love with the world, abandoning relationship and dependence on Him. At times, I'm guilty of going through the motions, outwardly proclaiming Christ, but inwardly loving myself and this world.
God doesn't need my worship, but if I'm not fully worshiping Him, then I'm worshiping something that will eventually destroy me. My Father wants to give me so much more than the substitutes that my heart pursues. Substitutes such as affluence, possessions, status, praise, even marriage, children, and church. I have been blessed with much of this, but when I let it replace God and make it my treasure, it ends in heartbreak and emptiness. Thankfully, the heartbreak draws me back into relationship and reminds me that He alone is enough.
So, how can I live for the kingdom that is coming and not this earth, which is temporary? Magnify the King and minimize me. Seeking God first means going to His Word every morning and eating the daily bread He provides. There I find wisdom, understanding, strength, and comfort to sustain me that day. Like corrective lenses, this simple habit has changed my vision and helped me see the things my Father cares about -- mainly people.
Discussion Questions
1. Are you seeking God's pleasure or your pleasure? Do you use your money to get the Lord's work done or to build a life of luxury?2. Where or in whom is God calling you to invest your time and gifts for the kingdom? Are you willing to do it without notice, waiting for the reward?
3. What worldly significance or substitutes do you pursue instead of allowing God to satisfy your soul? Are you growing anxious and weary in that pursuit?
4. Are the people that matter most to God on your radar? Widows, orphans, the poor and oppressed?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
MATTHEW 6-10 (JANUARY 9-13)
Read Matthew 6:25-34.
What is worry? What do you worry about?
What does God say about worry in these verses?
What things in nature does God tell us He takes care of?
How does He take care of them?
How does God take care of you?
Activity: Make tissue paper flowers. Go to this link and watch the video for directions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXNeVq2RxFU&feature=related
(Note: use a pipe cleaner instead of string to make a stem.)
Once you have completed your flowers. Cut out green leaves and write verse 34 on each leaf. Put these flowers where they will remind you that God will take care of you just like He takes care of the flowers.
Comments
The views expressed under “Comments” are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Watermark Community Church.
Lamp
January 9, 2012 05:34 AM
Great Job............."Magnify the King and minimize me....." now that is how you start the week!! Lamp
Jennifer Royall
January 9, 2012 05:38 AM
AMEN sister!
Ben
January 9, 2012 06:10 AM
Melissa - thank you for the encouragement. All those that have been around you appreciate your example of attending to those the Father cares about most...people in the margins of life. This is one of my favorite passages and I appreciate your insights into it.
Lora Strese
January 9, 2012 06:34 AM
Great devo Melissa. Such a great reminder to put my energy into heavenly treasures vs. earthly treasures! Thanks!!!
Christian Cabal
January 9, 2012 08:10 AM
Great questions! especially 3 and 4 personally.Through Gods grace He removed me from a work situation filled with anxiety and helped me to change the way i thought about work, where my status at work is no longer so important to me. Question 4 challenges me to look outside my normal circle of people, as I don't know any orphans or widows personally, or poor... its easy to get comfortable and isolated. From my reading, verse 22 & 23 reminded me a lot of Todds sermon yesterday, especially about dealing with the root problems instead of the symptoms. Matthew 6:23 NLT But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
Lucina
January 9, 2012 08:38 AM
I LOVE your intro and boy can I relate to being a broken women in love with her King. I read this after my early morning workout and keep thinking about your statement "Magnify the King and minimize me". Wow, if I can accomplish that today, it will be a job well done. Thanks for living OUT LOUD for all to see and for challenging me.
Robert
January 9, 2012 08:41 AM
Lesson for today: MHMM magnify Him/Minimize me. Thanks for good stuff today.
Todd Wagner
January 9, 2012 08:46 AM
Praying we all love Him today from the inside out Melissa. Thanks for being such a good friend to Alex and for your love of Jesus, others, laughter and of course country music.
Courtney Vorel
January 9, 2012 08:58 AM
I loved your last paragraph and last sentence- praying I will have spiritual eyes to see the opportunities to love on people around me today.
Anne Bush
January 9, 2012 09:06 AM
Great Devo Melissa! Great reminder not to replace God with "substitutes" as my treasure, but to minimize me and magnify my King. Thankful for the Godly example that you are!
Lee Danis
January 9, 2012 09:28 AM
Melissa, you stated one of the greatest reasons to be in God's word on a daily basis - "helps us to see the things my Father cares about". I see that as our default to block out all the noise we hear daily. Great devo.
Sue Bohlin
January 9, 2012 09:48 AM
"God doesn't need my worship, but if I'm not fully worshiping Him, then I'm worshiping something that will eventually destroy me." Oh MAN Melissa, this is stunning--it ought to be bold and italicized in 25-point font! Some people sarcastically criticize God for being a megalomaniac--"What's up with God demanding our worship? What kind of full-of-himself deity is THAT??!" Your deep insight shows us the way it really is: He wants us to worship Him because anything is an idol that will destroy us. . . and at the very least, keep us from experiencing the fullness of life He longs to share with us, but only as we maintain relationship and intimacy with Him. I'm reminded of Peter walking on water as long as He focused on Jesus, which was a form of worship--and we know what happened when he took his eyes off the Lord! WOW WOW WOW Melissa--thank you so much for this wonderful devo!
Sheri
January 9, 2012 01:23 PM
Love your devo Melissa- and love your vulnerability. May we all see our brokenness before our Holy King today!!
Curtis Bohlin
January 9, 2012 03:01 PM
When I read your bio, about how your family sees you, it's like you asked, "Who do you say that I am?"
Blaine Hale
January 9, 2012 05:59 PM
Melissa: As you shared it's not about us or "things" but it's all about him! I need to take question (4.) to heart. Would love to get into a card game with you and Scott soon!?! Good job.
Amanda Belitz
January 10, 2012 12:37 PM
Great message, thank you for your wisdom, truth and encouragement!
Jessica
January 11, 2012 08:36 PM
This devo has helped me to realize I have been worrying about things that are completely out of my control.... Finaces, my marriage, school, the list goes on it seems, but God is in control and now I feel at peace with all of it. Great devo & scriptures!