Out Of Line

Imagine this.

A man comes home to his wife after being gone for a week. No phone calls, no communication, no emails. He starts to grope his wife, expecting immediate intimacy, and then he will try to leave. He will repeat this pattern week after week.

I think we can agree that this is not a healthy relationship.

Who is this guy? Could be you. Could be me.

I wonder sometimes if we have prepared ourselves for worship. Worship isn’t a song set, it’s a life lived for the only worthy One. I wonder if we appreciate the great honor and privilege we have to enter into the throne room. I wonder if we have a healthy fear of the Creator of the Universe who is awesome in power and might.

Boldly entering into the throne room of God does not mean disrespectfully entering in. A friend of mine, when asked to pray, always pauses to think before he approaches his Lord and Savior. You can feel the gravity of the situation. Why is that?

It’s not because his prayer is more important. It’s because he has magnified God in his heart, and in doing so has come to appreciate the honor and privilege that is his through Christ Jesus.

He doesn’t force himself into fellowship. He doesn’t knock down the door demanding an intimate experience with the Lord of all. He has built a relationship with God. He talks to him constantly. He listens to the Word daily. He meditates.

Let me make a quick statement here: I am not upset with the church today. I do not cast judgment on my fellow man unless we are one on one. It’s not that I’m afraid to, it’s just inappropriate and out of line. Out of order. I love the body of Christ. I love the church. And it’s because I love the church that I worry about how some of us approach the Lion of Judah. I shudder when I realize that I’m guilty of irreverent or presumptuous behavior.

My friends tell me that God is love, and that is true. But those friends often misunderstand real love. God is also holy, just, and righteous. He is a consuming fire. He is all these simultaneously, and He is perfect in every aspect and in every way. Even His wrath is perfect and does not contradict His love. Am I missing something?

Am I a bad father if I expect my children to call me “Dad” instead of “Brian”? Am I a control freak if I expect obedience? Am I a tyrant because I don’t allow my children to run in the street and climb on top of the house? Am I evil because I don’t buy my children whatever they want? Am I brutal because I spank my kids (gasp!)?

I consider myself a child of the King, but not a spoiled brat. I give my heavenly Father the titles that are His. I expect to obey Him because I know it’s for my own good. I realize His laws keep me safe. I realize His answers to my prayers will not always be ‘yes’ because I don’t know what He knows, and am not always in His perfect will. I accept that I need chastisement, and I trust He is loving in that respect. I don’t want to barge into His office when I want to sing a song just so that I can feel fuzzy.

I thank God that He is gracious, and suffers the children to come to Him. He allows us to cross the line when we are young and don’t know any better. But I would think He expects us spiritual grown-ups to act our age. To call every day and check in. To read His Words of love to us, and to want to do so.

I wonder sometimes if we have prepared ourselves for worship. Before you go to church, give the Lord the honor due his great and holy name. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Spend time with him. Read his Word. Pray

Pastor B