Are you Comfortable?
Its usually our goal, isn't it? To do all the things necessary to make like more comfortable. Because when we are comfortable, then we can really enjoy it.
We find the perfect furniture, a comfy bed and bedding, clothes and shoes that fit comfortably. Find friends that you are comfortable around, put yourself in situations you are comfortable with and try to avoid things that make you uncomfortable...
Is this just me? Am I the only one who likes being comfortable? There's no way. Just from one day of scrolling on Facebook, you can see a number of memos that have to do with being comfortable.
So what am I getting at? Why am I musing about the desire of comfort?
Because our view of comfort is all about us. Our expectation of comfort, I don't feel, is in line with the Bible, meaning God's view of comfort.
In our understanding, comfort depends on circumstances. If you are sitting in a hard chair vs. a soft chair. If you are wearing flip flops vs heels. If you are having a conversation with your best friend vs. the new person at work. Comfort depends on our circumstances, but God tells us that we should get our comfort from Him.
I am doing a study on 2 Corinthians in my Sunday school class and something I read jumped of the page at me. It said that God will measure our pain with comfort. For as much pain as we have to go through, there is the same measure of comfort to help us. But, not the warm fuzzy, feelings comfort. True comfort that can't be taken away. That never changes. Comfort in who God is and in knowing that He always keeps His word. So when He says HE will never leave you or forsake you, comfort. When He says He has a plan and will work it all together for our good, comfort.
If we find ourselves so in the midst of God's presence, then He is like a Snuggle, embracing us from all over, and giving us the rest to go out and continue to fight against the influence of the world. We know we are going to face several trials a tribulations. That is something else He has promised us, but there is nothing that we will go through that 1. Is new to God, and 2. Is bigger, greater, mightier than God.
Through Him we are overcomes.
Now, I have touch on something else I have learned this week, through our January Bible Study on the book of Deuteronomy. Something that will make us.... wait for it.... uncomfortable.
God tells us exactly how He wants to be worshipped. I feel like a lot of times, we consider worship to be "our time".
Wrong-o.
When we make worship about us, what's the point? The goal of worship is to give God glory for who He is. Not for you to get those feelings that make you feel better. Now, that may be a side effect from worship, I know that a lot of times after a worship service I am feeling up on the mountain top with God, but if that's the goal, then its all wrong. The goal is to sing, pray, play music, read scripture, speak, think, whatever your act of worship is, to the glory of God. So that its all about Him.
Its easy to comment about how elaborate the stage is, or how talented the musicians are, or how great the lights and smoke are... but if that gets the glory and not God, then its a concert and not a worship service.
It hurts my heart when I hear people say things like, "I can't go to church there, I don't like how they do___________." Or, "I just can't worship God with that kind of _________."
Really?
Or, "I just couldn't get out of my bed this morning and go to church because of________."
Our goal is to be comfortable, when our goal should be to be comforted. To grow in relationship with God, give Him the glory in all we do, so that when things are hard, not the way we want them to be, we are comforted.
I fail, a lot. I fall away, a lot. I mess up, am selfish, rebel, and do my own thing so that I can be comfortable. And that comfort is always fleeting. I don't want to change worldly comforts, because its never enough. And sometimes finding comfort in the Lord means doing uncomfortable things.
Do you think I want to get up every Sunday morning to go to church? Sometimes, yes but most of the time I'd rather stay in my comfy bed. But its not about me, its about Him. And every week, I'm thankful I'm there, because He blesses me with the kind of comfort that doesn't go away when I get out of bed.
This might be me rambling, so if you're still with me, you must love me, haha.
Let's pray together and ask God to guide our hearts and keep Him at the forefront of our minds so that we are seeking Him instead of our own comforts.
Father, we come to you this morning, kind of overwhelmed by all the distractions around us. The world has so many comforts to "offer" us, but nothing compares to the lasting comfort that you give. Help us to keep your will as a guide in our lives. Help us to stay in connection with you through praying, reading Your word, surrounding ourselves with Your kids, listening to music that gives You glory, however you've set up for us. Remind us that its not about us, its about You. And when we make it about You, it pleases Your heart so. Give us grace when we go through our assigned trials, and help us to remember, there is always a way of escape. Sometimes we have to endure and cling to You on the way out, but that You always deliver Your children. This world is not for us, but while we are here, help us to be the salt and light. To be a picture of You to those who don't know You.
Lord, we love you so much, and its mind blowing that You chose to love us first, while we were sinners. You saw who You created us to be, and gave Your Son so that we could have a relationship. Let us not take that for granted. Its amazing.
We ask this is our Savior's Name, Jesus, Amen.
We find the perfect furniture, a comfy bed and bedding, clothes and shoes that fit comfortably. Find friends that you are comfortable around, put yourself in situations you are comfortable with and try to avoid things that make you uncomfortable...
Is this just me? Am I the only one who likes being comfortable? There's no way. Just from one day of scrolling on Facebook, you can see a number of memos that have to do with being comfortable.
So what am I getting at? Why am I musing about the desire of comfort?
Because our view of comfort is all about us. Our expectation of comfort, I don't feel, is in line with the Bible, meaning God's view of comfort.
In our understanding, comfort depends on circumstances. If you are sitting in a hard chair vs. a soft chair. If you are wearing flip flops vs heels. If you are having a conversation with your best friend vs. the new person at work. Comfort depends on our circumstances, but God tells us that we should get our comfort from Him.
I am doing a study on 2 Corinthians in my Sunday school class and something I read jumped of the page at me. It said that God will measure our pain with comfort. For as much pain as we have to go through, there is the same measure of comfort to help us. But, not the warm fuzzy, feelings comfort. True comfort that can't be taken away. That never changes. Comfort in who God is and in knowing that He always keeps His word. So when He says HE will never leave you or forsake you, comfort. When He says He has a plan and will work it all together for our good, comfort.
If we find ourselves so in the midst of God's presence, then He is like a Snuggle, embracing us from all over, and giving us the rest to go out and continue to fight against the influence of the world. We know we are going to face several trials a tribulations. That is something else He has promised us, but there is nothing that we will go through that 1. Is new to God, and 2. Is bigger, greater, mightier than God.
Through Him we are overcomes.
Now, I have touch on something else I have learned this week, through our January Bible Study on the book of Deuteronomy. Something that will make us.... wait for it.... uncomfortable.
God tells us exactly how He wants to be worshipped. I feel like a lot of times, we consider worship to be "our time".
Wrong-o.
When we make worship about us, what's the point? The goal of worship is to give God glory for who He is. Not for you to get those feelings that make you feel better. Now, that may be a side effect from worship, I know that a lot of times after a worship service I am feeling up on the mountain top with God, but if that's the goal, then its all wrong. The goal is to sing, pray, play music, read scripture, speak, think, whatever your act of worship is, to the glory of God. So that its all about Him.
Its easy to comment about how elaborate the stage is, or how talented the musicians are, or how great the lights and smoke are... but if that gets the glory and not God, then its a concert and not a worship service.
It hurts my heart when I hear people say things like, "I can't go to church there, I don't like how they do___________." Or, "I just can't worship God with that kind of _________."
Really?
Or, "I just couldn't get out of my bed this morning and go to church because of________."
Our goal is to be comfortable, when our goal should be to be comforted. To grow in relationship with God, give Him the glory in all we do, so that when things are hard, not the way we want them to be, we are comforted.
I fail, a lot. I fall away, a lot. I mess up, am selfish, rebel, and do my own thing so that I can be comfortable. And that comfort is always fleeting. I don't want to change worldly comforts, because its never enough. And sometimes finding comfort in the Lord means doing uncomfortable things.
Do you think I want to get up every Sunday morning to go to church? Sometimes, yes but most of the time I'd rather stay in my comfy bed. But its not about me, its about Him. And every week, I'm thankful I'm there, because He blesses me with the kind of comfort that doesn't go away when I get out of bed.
This might be me rambling, so if you're still with me, you must love me, haha.
Let's pray together and ask God to guide our hearts and keep Him at the forefront of our minds so that we are seeking Him instead of our own comforts.
Father, we come to you this morning, kind of overwhelmed by all the distractions around us. The world has so many comforts to "offer" us, but nothing compares to the lasting comfort that you give. Help us to keep your will as a guide in our lives. Help us to stay in connection with you through praying, reading Your word, surrounding ourselves with Your kids, listening to music that gives You glory, however you've set up for us. Remind us that its not about us, its about You. And when we make it about You, it pleases Your heart so. Give us grace when we go through our assigned trials, and help us to remember, there is always a way of escape. Sometimes we have to endure and cling to You on the way out, but that You always deliver Your children. This world is not for us, but while we are here, help us to be the salt and light. To be a picture of You to those who don't know You.
Lord, we love you so much, and its mind blowing that You chose to love us first, while we were sinners. You saw who You created us to be, and gave Your Son so that we could have a relationship. Let us not take that for granted. Its amazing.
We ask this is our Savior's Name, Jesus, Amen.
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