Do you really love HIM?
Psalm 16:7 (NLT) I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
Did your realize that you, yes you! can bless the Lord. Yes, you a creation of the creator can actually bless Him. When I was a young Christian I first discovered this idea. Long before I realized the call on my life. It was one of those "hard teachings" that I could just not grasp. "How can a lowly sinner like me be a blessing to the Lord?" I would ask myself. I mean let's be real here I was a young Christian that had not even conquered the " be holy as I am holy" idea of God and now I find out I could bless the Lord. I could basically give the Lord a warm fuzzy. What a great idea. If you can remember back to being a new born Christian. Back when you were still on fire. Back when you spent more time riding the highs of the Holy Spirit. Back when the number one thing on your mind was giving this new found salvation to the world. It was a great thing to know you could give God a big giant warm fuzzy back like He was giving you.
But, how do we do that? The first thing I had to do was search the word of God. I dug through the scriptures until I found out how I could bless the Lord. I figured He had given me so much and if I could give Him a warm fuzzy back I was all for that. Well, here I am 30 years later and I am still that young Christian. I heeded my children's request when they asked me "not to grow up." I thought if it was good enough for my kids then it was good enough for this kings kid. I still ride the highs of the Holy Spirit. If fact you might look at this old pastor as a Holy Spirit surfer. I just love to have the Holy Spirit in control and I just get to surf along with Him. Now don't take this too far and picture this old pastor on his surf board in Speedos'. It would not be a pretty sight. :)
But how do you and I bless the Lord? First lets look at the word in the original Hebrew baòrak baw-rak' A primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration) Well, this is a start to kneel. In other words to humble yourself before the Lord. This is a blessing to our Father in heaven. God said it in the Old Testament Isaiah 57:15 (NLT) 15The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. God's Son said it in the New Testament Matthew 18:4 (ASV) 4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So, the first way you and I can be a blessing to the Lord is to have that humble and contrite heart. But, do you notice that if we have a humble and contrite heart we can also be a blessing to our fellow man?
The second way we can be a blessing to the Lord is to be in His will. This was so important that where Jesus gave us an example of how to pray He included it. That is why this ministry is called His Will Ministry. That is all we want to do God's will not ours! Let's look at just one example of how we can bless the Lord by doing His will. Luke 7:37-50 (KJV) And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
This short example has so much you and I can learn from. You can read in Matthew 26:7-13 and Mark 14:3-7 additional accounts of this. First we know this woman was a sinner, not a follower of Christ. Second, she used ointment that was worth approximately one years wages. Third, she anointed his head then began washing Jesus' feet with her tears and hair. Let's look at each one a little more.
Think about it, this woman was a sinner. I find it interesting that the Pharisee at the dinner knew exactly what her sin was. But my point here is do you think an ordinary sinner is just going to say "hum I guess I better go anoint the Son of God for his burial!" Nope, she was led by the Spirit of God to do what she did. She started by doing what the Spirit impressed her anointing the head of the Lord (Mark 7:3) Then she was overcome by it all and fell to her knees (blessed) and washed the Lords feet with her hair and tears. In that moment of her anointing the Lord's head she fell so in love with Jesus that she humbled herself and washed His feet. Now notice, above verse (44) that Jesus says that Simon gave Him no water for his feet. At this time it was a very common practice to either have your servants wash the feet of the dinner guests or to give them water to wash their feet. Why? because the local streets were used by both man and beast. There was no street sweeper cleaning up all the animal dung. You just walked through it or around it. Simon being a leper (Matt 26:6) was not used to company or the proper procedures for guests.
This woman not only anointed the head of our Lord with a years worth of income ointment but, then washed His smelly most likely dung cover feet with her tears and hair. Just take a minute and picture the sight. A woman, a sinner, who now is standing before the Lord of all creation with reds eyes from crying, a head of totally dung and mud filled, frizzed out, tangled hair and look on her face that said " what else can I do for you my Lord!" I do not know how you can get more humble than that. So Jesus says Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
How much do you love Jesus? He said that those who are forgiven much, love much and those who are forgiven little, love little. How much do you love Jesus? Has the Lord ever asked you to do something you just did not want to do? Has he ever pushed you out of your comfort zone? If the Spirit of God leads you to do something, is your first reaction "yes Lord lets get going!" or "Say what? Are your sure you're talking to me?" I will share a little confession of mine. Last summer and fall the ministry handed out 120 gift bags to the oil and gas drilling rigs around Sublette county. Each gift bag contained little gifts, Bible tracts, an oil and gas field Bible and two CD's on salvation and hell. At first when the Lord asked us to do this I was excited. But, then old slue foot got me by the throat. "You know these are people you work with. What will they think of you giving out this Christian stuff in a heathen industry? They will mock you!" For a few moments it really struck home but Mary and I went to our strength our direct connection to heaven (prayer) and called in reinforcements. Guess what this old pastor got to preach Jesus to many people and not one gave us any hassle. How much do you love Jesus? Will you cut the lawn of that neighbor you just cannot get along with? Will your help pull that "jerk" in the cubical next to you at the office out of a jam? Will you show Jesus to that sinner even though it might mean being mocked.
How much do you love Jesus? Are you self centered focused on what you are doing and how your are being of such a great use to God or are you totally surrendered to God so His Spirit can show you how to be of value to God Himself?
How much do you love Jesus? On that final day will He welcome you with open arms and say "Welcome home good and faith servant!" or will you say Matthew 7:22 (KJV) 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then hear Matthew 7:23 (KJV) …I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
How much do you love Jesus? Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone for Him? Think about it your salvation my depend on your answer.
God Bless
Pastor A. J.
