This post was sent to me by my friend Kent. He is commenting on my "What Is Worship" blog.

This is what God has done to re-establish worship!

Romans 8:3-4: "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

To observe that "God has done" is to understand that God moves in history and He is active.  He uses participants to accomplish his will.  He himself participates in history and he was willing to give up His son to get involved with us and for us.  Christ  left privilege and power behind to become like us, and then offer himself as an example and an atonement.  He entered "our" system.  

We have a term called, "rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty".  A crude term but  it illustrates the point that God was willing to enter "our system", and get down to where we are in a way that truly demonstrated a commitment and a desire to work things out.  He truly participated in or adopted a "likeness of sinful flesh". If you really want to play with your child then you get way down on the floor and look them in the eye.  To truly relate and be understood you get to the level they are living in and playing on.  

Our misuse of his systems, (the garden etc.), the systems decay (creation etc.), and others interested in destroying what God intended, called for an adjustment on Gods part that establishes new systems of worship where we can again enjoy what we had in the beginning. WE could not re-establish a relationship as in our sin we are "condemned".  Gods salvation meets all "just requirements" in order to establish our new walk/relationship/worship.  Both the OT and NT systems were described, delivered,  (and in a very real sense), demonstrated in a very personal and intimate way.  God  got  down on our level and communicated in terms we  understood.  God fully and lovingly  demonstrated who he was, and what was expected from us in return.  All His systems are hand crafted to benefit those who participate according to the systems inherent intent, and, the "do's and don'ts" are intentional and for our own good.  This very personal, "get down to where we are" or "down to the floor" is what makes Gods request for obedience and worship a fair and reasonable one.  God has come more than half way and the give-and-take of relationships  demand that we be obedient and choose to participate, .....or not!  After all that God has done, and considering the help he has provided, we are expected to walk "according to the Spirit."

K52   

WHAT IS LIFE LIKE?

I recently taught a bible study where I gave the following exercise:

There is an old song that says. “Life is like a bowl of cherries. Don’t take it serious. Life’s too mysterious”. Another saying asks the question, “If life is like a bowl of cherries, why is it that I always get the pits?” I’m sure you’re familiar with other phrases that describe what life is like from a certain perspective. For example, if you are a planner you might say, “Life is a serious of events”; if you are a reactor you might say, “Life is a series of interruptions”; if you like adventure you might say, “Life is a series of challenges”, etc. So finish this phrase for yourself: “Life is like…..” What would you say? What is life like to you?  Then, explain why you chose that particular metaphor to describe your life.

I received some very interesting and thoughtful answers which were expressions of how each person felt about their life. This wasn't a contest so there was no scale applied to the "correctness" of the answer.

In order to "play along"" I spent some time thinking about how I would answer this question. I came up with the following (luckily for me I had advance notice of the question):

To me, life has been like an adventure, where one day you are ascending into the heights, the next descending into the valleys. The crossing of mountains and valleys is necessary if you are to make a journey from one point to another. Sometimes the scenery is breathtaking with the beauty and wonder of what we are experiencing almost too much to comprehend. Sometimes it is dark and gloomy with the stench of decay. And once we start, the rigors of the journey constantly force us to choose either to continue forward or turn around and return to our past.

I have chosen, even while walking through the valleys of despair, disillusionment, and confusion, to press on toward the final destination. And as I press on in life through the losses and the strengths, I discover the faithfulness of God - His patience and comfort and strength - which brings such security to me. I have also discovered that the path I travel through the hills and valleys has become more level - with less rises and falls. I attribute this is to the constant presence of God walking with me through life's journey and preparing the way before me.

So I embrace the adventure and trust the Guide of all the living to bring me to my destination safely – the destination for which He paid such a great price – knowing that He walks with me along the way. And when I reach my destination a home will be provided for me, an eternal home with Him in His kingdom. And though I will have completed my journey the adventure will remain - the adventure of new life, new heavens, and a new earth. An adventure planned out for me by the Father, whom I can walk with in complete freedom, with no more night, no more tears, no more pain, and no more crying, just undiminished joy.

Since we were studying the book of Hebrews and had just read about the faith of the Old Testament saints in Chapter 11, I followed up with another exercise: 

What do you feel life was like for the Old Testament saints? If you were Abraham, David, Moses, or Samson, or any other Old Testament saint and you were being interviewed at the end of your life, what would you say? How would you complete the phrase, “Life is like…..? Pretend you are Abraham, Moses, David, Samson, or some other saint and you are being interviewed. Say, “My name is Abraham/David/Moses/etc., and life for me is like……” then complete the thought.

This exercise was a little harder because not everyone knew a lot about these saints. However, I again received some interesting answers showing an understanding of what these saints went through and, though their lives were lived differently and in different times, a common thread emerged. No matter what we experience in life  we all share the same faith in the same God whom we trust to bring us through.

In order to help the exercise gain momentum I also prepared in advance what I thought these saint might have said had they been interviewed at the end of their lives. Here is my take on this question.

ABRAHAM

My name is Abraham, and life for me has sometimes felt like a barren woman – full of hope and promise but producing nothing. Sometimes I felt my efforts were in vain for I had no one to share them with, no son of my own to pass down what I had built up and learned through years of hard labor. I have seen hopes crushed and dreams shattered and I have seen people I love lost to the sins of this world and the jealousy of others. So the hopes I had seemed to dry up and blow away.

But I have also experienced the hope of life which comes from believing in God’s promises, which, to me, have been many. I have seen the faithfulness of God, even in the midst of death. So life to me now is full of promise. There is nothing too difficult for God.

DAVID

My name is David, and life for me has been like “Hide and Seek”, only I never wanted to be found. Sometimes, no matter how hard I tried to be a righteous man, forgiving and loving others, I was always unappreciated and constantly in danger. Not from everyone, for I had a close friend and many true companions. Those in authority, however, seemed to always misjudge me. And the longer I lived, the more trouble I seemed to encounter, several times even despairing of my life.

But I have also seen the faithfulness of God in the land of the living. Even when unrighteousness sits on the throne of a nation, God rules in the hearts of men and His purposes will be accomplished. So life to me now is a throne, not my own, but the throne of the One to whom God has promised it, a Righteous and Faithful and Eternal King. For through Him will come salvation and eternal life, which He has promised to all whose hearts seek after Him. And He will bless them with a dynasty which will go into eternity with them.

MOSES

My name is Moses, and life for me has felt like the Red Sea. I have been tossed to and fro by the waves of doubt with which God’s people constantly bombard me. And frequently they built their doubt so high it felt like a barrier too deep for me to navigate. Sometimes the waves engulfed me and I was overcome with frustration, anger, and despair.

But I have also experienced God’s parting of that Sea so that all of us could walk securely on solid ground away from our bondage and into our freedom. I have seen the faithfulness of God even in the midst of unbelief - sometimes gentle, sometime vengeful, but always purposeful.  I have felt the weight of the Red Sea being lifted from me and God surrounding me with His power and love. So life to me now is a mountain, the place where I meet and talk with God and where He speaks to me face to face as with a friend.

  

SAMSON

My name is Samson and life for me has feel like one set of betrayals after another. I have lousy taste in women. Seems like every one of them cozy up to me in order to gain something, but when they cannot get what they want they fight against me and hand me over to my enemies. Not that I have been a perfect man. I am well aware of my faults and my unwillingness to change. But can't a man with such a hunger as I at least expect to sit down at a meal without a fight once in a while?

But I have also experienced surrender, both willing and unwilling. Unwilling surrender because I was stripped of my pride and strength and captured by my enemies. Willing surrender because when I lost everything I learned to loosen my grip and in the process gained a stronger faith. So life to me now is surrender, a giving of everything I have to the One who gave it all. Even as I breath my last I do so in the knowledge that I am welcome in his kingdom, as are all whose hearts are surrendered to Him.

I would be happy to hear your thoughts on these questions. If you want, pick a saint of your own and tell us what you think he or she would say "life is like". Or reply with your own statement of what life is like to you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Pastor Dan