We often ask God for safe travel and healing for the sick. Ever notice how our prayers are often saturated with what we want from God? But how much do we think about what God wants from us? Does He have any expectations of His children?
Sunday morning at Waterview church of Christ we’ll examine some things that God desires from His children. Consider how much you give to God when it comes to justice, kindness and humility. We often are prepared to travel to foreign mission fields and sign up for mission trips to comfort those who are suffering. But is our justice and kindness reserved only for those who are ‘afar off?’ How willing are we to be just, kind and humble to those we see every day, or maybe… every Sunday?
“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15
Sunday morning, June 2, 2013
The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.
“Let God Arise” – 471
Our call to worship is a contemporary song with roots from the 68th Psalm. A simple statement Christians should always remember, “May God arise, may His enemies be scattered…” How will it look when God’s enemies are scattered. Will you be standing with Him or His enemies?
“Higher Ground” – no book
An adaptation from the original by Johnson Oatman, this arrangement features the same music (for the most part) and the same words, yet with a slight twist. The above YouTube video follows the format that we’ll be singing this Sunday morning at Waterview. Enjoy the adjustment, but don’t miss the message; “I’m pressing on the upward way,”…stilling praying that the Lord will, “…plant my feet on higher ground.”
“In Memory of the Savior’s Love” – 335 & “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” – 315
These two songs will serve as a medley for the Lord’s supper. Verse one from the first song will proceed verse two from the second. Notice the flow; “…where every humble, contrite (penitent) heart is made a welcome guest.” “Forbid it Lord that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my Lord…” We’ll sing this will be before the bread, then before the fruit of the vine we’ll sing verses 2 & 3 from this medley. The songs will flow like this: “…The cup in token of His blood that was for sinner’s shed.” “See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down…” And as we close our time of remembrance we’ll switch the order of the songs and begin with verse 4 and close with verse 3. The message: “…Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” “Beneath the banner thus we sing the wonders of His love…”
“Pierce My Ear” – no book
Taken from Exodus 21:1-6, and yet many tend to shy away from this song because of the misunderstanding of (or disagreement with) the title. But when we understand the Biblical reference behind this psalm (we are singing scripture) we can better understand that for a Hebrew slave to have his ear pierced was not a glamorous sign of independence. Instead, it meant a permanent, visual contract that displayed his prearranged bondage. To say you ‘wanted your ear pierced’ was a step toward giving up your every freedom to a life of slavery. Read the text, “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.” Now who is willing to sing?
“Where He Leads I’ll Follow” – 417
In keeping with our theme for this lesson we need to look no further than the last phrase from the first two verses of this song; “He the great example is the pattern for me…” When we truly Follow Jesus, we’ll be kind to the erring ones and faith like He is.
“‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” – 679
Our invitation song calls us to trust Him. Personally, the second verse means more as we understand we’re singing about baptism. Notice it again, “O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust His cleansing blood, just in simple faith to plunge me ‘neath (beneath) the healing, cleansing flood.” Sometimes I wonder how many have sung this song over the years and missed that critical message of baptism.
“Oh, to Be Like Thee” – 429
As we draw this song service to a close, this hymn reminds us of what God wants from us; to be like Him. Again, see the second verse; “Oh, to be like Thee! Full of compassion, loving, forgiving, tender and kind, helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, seeking the wandering sinner to find…” Is Jesus stamped on your heart?
Why did God created us, was he lonely? What was going through his mind at the moment of our creation? Did he say, “only human” after he created us ? I wish he would talk to me in a way that I would know it was him., eraseing any doubt.
Jonathon,
I appreciate your comment and hope you’ll stay connected. But not so much to this website as to God’s word. This is simply a means to encourage the reader and perhaps inspire those who are interested in knowing (needing) more. To answer your question let me first encourage you to pick up your Bible. If you believe there is a God, the only source of His communication to us is His word. Why did God create us? Rest assured it’s not from loneliness. Consider Acts 17:22-34, the apostle Paul was speaking to the people of Athens who ‘worshiped’ many gods. Concerning Jehovah God Paul said in verse 24-28, “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man (Adam) every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope (search) for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist (are)…” As for your other questions; What God was ‘thinking’ during creation…simply look to Genesis 1:26 & 27. Our term ‘human’ coming from ‘man’ and gives me a good understanding that He created mankind…only humans. If you truly wish for Him to talk to you, you have to open your Bible and listen to Him speak. Start with John chapter 8, verse 31-47. These are the words of God’s Son as He tells the listener (reader) how to find truth. I hope you will reply and we can continue our study.
One more…read Jude verses 17-23, you don’t have to doubt!