Get To, Not Have To

He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. (John 2:25 NIV)

Quite some time ago I remember discussing with another church member the possibility of having communion every week. He said he was against it because it made the service longer. I asked him why he came to church if he couldn't wait to go home. He replied that as a Christian attending church was his duty.

It is surprising that this person is not alone in his thinking. Somehow many of us have this belief that God needs US... that by going to worship and praying and doing good works is somehow "feeding" God.

But... Do we pray because God doesn't already know what we need? Do we confess because God doesn't already know how we've failed? Do we worship because God needs to have his God-sized ego fed? Do we help others because God can't?

No, no, no and NO! God tells us to do these things because he knows that they will all nourish our own spirits. And the more we do these things - with all our heart, soul, mind and strength - the more we will want to do them... and we will never notice when the worship service goes a little bit beyond an hour because of communion. On the contrary, we won't even really want to leave. And because we don't want to leave, we will take His presence with us.

It's about changing the "have-to" to a "get-to." And that's about making a head to heart change.

Father,
Help us to embrace all those things you tell as we should be doing as pleasures insteaad of pennance; as food for our souls instead of food for your ego; as "get-to's" instead of "have-to's." Amen.

Joys: a nice birthday and so many birthday wishes on Facebook; surprises; open-window weather