What Do You Expect?

Earlier this summer, on a Sunday morning, I was reading portions from the Bible reading plan I use.  One section was from Deuteronomy 13, which is about avoiding false gods.  Another reading was Psalm 100, which points our praise to Him.

There wasn't any specific word or phrase that struck me, but between the two readings I became convicted.  I was convicted about going to church and expecting something else.  It was subtle.  But it was about going to church for something besides God.

Let me explain. Ellen and I were going to our son's church that Sunday because he was asked to share his faith story on that particular day.  While we are excited to hear about the way God is moving in our children's lives and hearts, I was convicted that I was anticipating going to church to hear from my son - and not from God.  Anyone else guilty of this?  How often have we come to church with wrong expectations.  Do you go to see someone or hear something rather than to meet and worship God?  We need to come to hear what God is saying to us.  After all, it is HIS house.

Perhaps I was also convicted because this past spring I had been teaching the middle school kids from the Old Testament.  Repeatedly, God's children would chase after other idols.  Repent.  Come back.  Then repeat the whole sequence again.  (Sounds like a shampoo ad.)  The Bible pulls no punches in making it clear that God is a jealous God and He will not accept anything or anyone to come before Him.  It happens repeatedly in the OT.  If we're honest, it probably happens repeatedly in our lives today too.

So as we went that morning and as the pastor spoke, I noticed – carved into the wood around the pipe organ – three words: “Soli Deo Gloria”  In Latin it means  "Glory to God alone" (my highlight).  I think, being a slow learner, God was just reinforcing what He taught me earlier that morning.  It was a great reminder of what – Who – I should focus on and where my expectation should be.

I have a song on my iPod called “Jealous God”.  The words go like this (click here to listen to listen to it and then scroll down to the correct song):

Verse 1:
            
You gave us life through your command
To serve only you, the maker of man
You are a strong consuming fire
Jealous for us, with Holy desire
Chorus
With all our soul we worship you
With all our strength, we will pursue
Only You deserve every part of us
We give you our hearts, and lay down our dreams
We long for you and not earthly thing
You Oh God require every part of us
You are a jealous God
Verse 2
We are the bride you've set apart
Called to be one with our Father's heart
Too many times we've gone astray
But as one we sing, here on this day
Bridge
Nothing deserves my attention more than You
Nothing deserves my affection more than You
You are the truth in a world full of lies
Only for You will my heart have eyes
Nothing deserves all of me, more than You      

You've probably seen the credit card commercial with Alex Baldwin in which he asks; "What's in your wallet?"  Let's put a twist on that and say; "What's in (the center of) your worship?"