This image is pretty sad, isn’t it.
We passed by a house just like this recently on a drive in upper Michigan, and it was hard to not wonder how someone could ever allow it to get in that poor condition. It obviously had been beautiful and full of life at some point! I just knew it was now a dismal representation of what its builder intended. Deteriorating. Empty. Lifeless. Unpurposed.
But I know I’ve had moments in my life where I, too, allowed myself to become a dismal representation of what my Builder-Creator intended. Those same adjectives were staring me in the face. Deteriorating. Empty. Lifeless. Unpurposed. Just being honest. (Only by God’s grace did I not end up in the same shape as this house!)
The Bible is very clear about God’s purpose for us. A few of those verses are . . .
“I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.” Isaiah 45:23
“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW,
of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
“For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” Romans 14:11
“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth
and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 45:23
From beginning to end, the word of God declares that God created us to be His worshipers. That is our #1 God-given purpose. And everything else fits within and flows out of that purpose.
So if I’m wise, I’m regularly asking myself:
Am I . . .
. . . fulfilling my God-given purpose as His worshiper OR neglecting my purpose to become just a shell of what was intended?
. . . reflecting the glory of my Creator OR reflecting and glorifying something with no visible comparison to who He is?
. . . experiencing the joy and satisfaction of living out my purpose as His worshiper OR enduring a life that’s empty and void of that purpose?
Again, wisely I know I need to regularly be taking steps to ensure that I fulfill my purpose as a worshiper of our Lord God Almighty, so I don’t become a shell of what He intended. How? I must never stop seeking to know more of God.
I can’t tell myself that often enough. (Have you noticed that yet?) It’s foundational. It’s critical to the upkeep of my soul as His worshiper. Because the more I know of God, the more I love Him, and the more I want to tell Him just how amazing He is. The more I worship.
I don’t want to be a dismal shell of what the Master Builder intended. Everything He is and has done for me is worth every ounce of fight I can muster to glorify Him. He alone is worthy!
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS
AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.
Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;
for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:8b, 11
What have you found helpful to upkeep your worshiping soul?
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