Have you ever considered that the very use of your gift brings glory to God, if it is used properly? This week I am so excited to share one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Check this out:

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever” (I Peter 4:10-11).

According to Peter, the context of this verse is related to the end of time. Verse 7 indicates, “The end of all things it at hand; therefore…” Following is a list of what we should do because the end is near: be self-controlled, sober-minded, love one another, show hospitality, and…use the gift you have been given.

There is a way to use your gift so that is brings glory to God, or in such a way that it dishonors God. According to our passage, here are two clues that we are bringing glory to God through the use of our gifts:

• using our gifts to serve one another
• realizing we are stewards of God’s grace

Is it not amazing to realize that the gifts you have are displays of God’s grace to the world? They are meant to showcase His worth, not yours. When we serve one another through His strength, we bring glory to God. If we use our gift in a self-seeking manner, we do not.

Verse 11 reveals God’s goal for God’s distributed gifts – so that “in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” Allow God’s Word to penetrate your heart as you realign your foundation for serving.

Spend some time reflecting on this question – “What is the goal of my gifts?”

Last week we looked at Psalm 43 and the “anticipation” aspect of worship. Continuing through the Psalms this week, I want to look at the theme of our vision – what our eyes look upon. The essence of worship is a response to who God is. It’s an effect of seeing Him – His attributes. In order to be pure, set-apart worshipers, we need to discipline our eyes to behold the right things. Consider these two verses:

“Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word” (Psalm 119:35-47).

Also,

“I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).

I find this incredibly stirring. David had caught a glimpse of the beauty of God and the last thing he wanted was to be distracted from it. He knew his flesh was weak. If he spent time looking at “worthless” things, he knew his heart would be drawn away from what was truly beautiful; namely, the word of God.

What if we prepared our hearts for weekend worship by spending less time looking at worthless things? What if we allowed the beauty of creation to stir our worship? The Word of God? What if we chose to say ‘no’ to certain, legitimate pleasures in order to feast upon the greatness of God?

I know that Jesus is all satisfying and the more we gaze upon his glory, the more satisfied lives we will live.

This is Wilson. He is my foster brother. My sister just sent me this picture because I guess he is listening to my music and smiling because of its sheer awesomeness. Maybe not. But he is smiling. He tends to make loud noises whenever I sing. He loves music.

Wilson has many horrible physical problems. He was shaken traumatically as a baby and doesn’t have much brain function. He is also blind. He cannot do anything (I mean anything) on his own.

In spite of all that, he may be the happiest person I have ever met. Not joking. He has the biggest smile and the most contagious laugh, even though he doesn’t always know what is going on. If you have never met Wilson, you really need to. He could change your life.

Never take for granted all that you have. If you tend to get down easily with issues in your life, hanging out for a few minutes with an amazing person like Wilson may teach you the most profound truths about life.

Psalm 43

Theme: Anticipation for God’s Presence

“Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

I’m amazed by the brutal honesty of the Psalms. David and the other writers were not afraid to verbalize the depths of their pain, yet at the same time they revealed their faith in God.

What strikes me about this passage is the singer’s anticipation to be in God’s presence. His soul is cast down and in turmoil from the oppression of wicked people. Where does he run? What is his place of security? You ready?

GOD WAS HIS EXCEEDING JOY.

What if we approached our worship times as if God was our exceeding joy? What if our highest longing was to be in the presence of God?

Let’s cause our worship focus this week and our preparation for Sunday to be on God our exceeding joy. Think and pray and prepare in such a way that your heart is longing to be with Jesus. Anticipation paves the way for genuine worship.

What is an atmosphere of  worship? Is it a sweet keyboard pad? Is it dim lighting with candles, coffee, and couches? Is it the third key change of ‘Shout to the Lord’?

Last night at our worship team Refresh Night, I shared a little tidbit out of the book of Acts, relating to a particular ‘atmosphere’ of worship. Check this out:

“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:1-3).

I notice three things about this ‘atmosphere’ that was cultivated through their worship:

1. The Holy Spirit spoke
2. The will of God was revealed
3. People were commissioned

What if this happened more often when we gathered to worship God? As we single-mindedly set our hearts upon glorifying Christ, He speaks to us, reveals His will, and sends us out with His boldness.