Becoming New

We're twenty two days into the new year, and if the crowd at my college's fitness center is any indication people are working on their New Year fitness resolutions, myself included.  I've been working out most days of the week and trying to eat less junk food in an effort to get healthier and stronger.  Phrases like "a whole new you!" and "transform your body" are all over the place, and people are looking at their post-holiday bodies thinking "yeah, that could be a good idea." 

Everyone wants a beautiful body, but what gets overlooked at this time of year, and any time of year for that matter, is that no amount of body fat (or lack thereof) and no amount of muscle mass (or lack thereof) is going to make you more beautiful.  It might seem that way, but it just won't.  You're already the most beautiful thing in the world.  You're a child of God.

"So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them" (Genesis 1:27).  You don't need to lose ten more pounds to be lovable, you don't need six pack abs to be beautiful.  God made you in His image, and you already are absolutely beautiful.  God has the power to make you new in so many ways, not just physically, if you'll ask Him and let Him into your life.

Colossians 3:17 says "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Think about this while you're working out, and really while you do anything else.  Worship isn't just singing, worship is glorifying God in everything that you do, whether that be studying, working, singing, dancing, working out, or anything.

Think about altering your New Years Resolution to ask God to transform your mind, body, and soul, because He can and He will make you new this year, in all kinds of ways.

If He Comes Suddenly...

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

 

On campus, we have times of worship that are set aside to just sing God's praises together.  It's incredible to stand in a room, or outside in the middle of God's creation in one instance, and worship the Creator all together.  I find that so many of the lessons that God teaches me comes not through the sermons and messages that I hear on Sunday mornings or in Chapel throughout the week, but through the songs that we sing to praise Him.

 

God is so deserving of worship, and no doubt He takes joy in His children when we join together to sing for Him, but our journey with God can't stop there.  At the church that I grew up in, the verse above, the Doxology, was always sung after the offering had been collected, a form of thanking God for the gifts He has given us and offering them back up to Him.  I have learned to associate this Doxology with a monetary offering, however, at the end of each worship session on campus we join together in singing the Doxology, despite the fact that no offering has been collected.

 

The first time we sang the verse together I was confused, but quickly realized that this was just yet another form of worship.  This was offering our lives up to God, rather than our money. 

 

There is so much more to following Christ than simply praising Him through song.  We must follow Him and join Him in the mission field, regardless of where we are, because the mission field is all around us.  God didn't give us the most amazing gift in the world for us to keep to ourselves, He sent His Son so that we may live in Him and spread His love to the people around us.

 

Some people are called to follow and serve Christ overseas, but so many of us are called to serve right where we are.  God is always calling us to His mission, there is no "someday" about it.  Jesus could return at any moment, and Mark 13:36 says "if He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping."  I was told by someone recently that if you aren't actively doing God's work in the world, then you aren't truly following Him.  There is so much more to worship and following God than just singing and attending Bible studies.

Lord of the Dance

When we began to sing this song in the service at my church on Sunday morning my mind was focused on the idea of worship, because that was the focus of the youth service the same morning, and I was trying to figure out how this was worship. It seemed like a call to action to me, a call to worship in a way other than song.

It's a call to dance for our Lord. Does that mean literally dance? No, well, not always, though it certainly can, but rather, glorify God in everything you do, and do it with a cheerful heart. To follow the choreography that He has created for us, because "[He'll] lead [us] all wherever [we] may be". We have to do nothing but dance, awaiting to be led, and follow when we are.

"It's hard to dance with the devil on your back"-this line struck me so much that I wrote it on a scrap of paper during the service. When I think of what this is trying to say, my initial thought is that it's difficult to accept God's forgiveness when you can't manage to forgive yourself, but then with a second thought my mind went to what might be the obvious for most. It's difficult to follow God when you're already leading a life of sin. When you aren't willing to leave the path that you're on and follow God on His, and you falter in between, you end up very, very lost. Everyone strays from the path, but the important part is that you find your way back afterwards.

"I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; They came to me, and the dance went on"-this part goes right along with the one above. The fishermen were willing to drop their nets, drop what they were doing, and follow Jesus. Maybe God is calling you to do something as extreme as the fishermen, or maybe not. Whatever God is calling you to do, listen to Him. Dance your way down the path that Jesus has prepared for you.