Rightly

Ive been reading a book called "The Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer. It's a small book but jam packed with good information. The just of this book is to learn more about God. I am into learning all I can about God and all I read helps me do that.

I was talking with my mom last week and she wondered where all this reading comes from now. She knows as a kid I hated reading and didn't care for school much.....so this is foreign to her to know how much I like learning. I shared with her in the conversation that I would love to go to Bible college just to learn......I wouldn't care if I got a degree....I just want to know all I can. She just chuckled a little. I know it's strange.....but it's how i am. 

Anyway the first chapter tells the reader that we must think rightly of God. If we don't have the right mindset when it comes to God we will get off track really quick. Our worship of a holy God will be affected by how we view God. Our thoughts of him can be high and low.....and our worship of Him will reflect that. Think of Sunday services. First of all worship is never about us, but all about God. It's very difficult at times to keep God high and focus during the worship time. There are lots of times I'm distracted during the worship service. Two of my kids don't live with us so I only see them at church. It makes me happy to see them and sit next to them....but it is a distraction. When I get distracted, my view of God goes from high to low and my worship of him takes a toll. Or I think about my week and what i should have done.....or I have let my mind wander to places it shouldn't. I'm not proud to admit that, but it's truth. I want to keep God high, but life and the world creeps in. This is a constant battle. This is why we need the church. We are all in the same boat when it comes to worshipping our God and keeping him held high. We need each other to help us do just that. 

The author goes on to say that idolatry is most hateful to God. When we have idols in our heart, we can not give God our full attention or the glory He deserves. Idols can range from anything like a cell phone, music, TV, friends, reading....it's anything we put before our God. This is a human condition of the heart. We are constantly chasing things that don't satisfy and when we have idols, we are telling God he's not enough for us. We think the temporary pleasure we get from whatever our idol is will be better for us. We are prideful when it comes to our idols. We want what we rant when we want it.

However, the gospel of Jesus points us to a right thinking about God. Only the gospel will help us rid the idols we carry. My pastor tells us we need to preach the gospel daily to ourself to keep it fresh. This way we will humble ourself and repent so we can have a right relationship with our God once again. Thinking rightly about God will empower us to live rightly for Him. We have an obligation to God If we call ourselves a Christian. We are obligated to obey.....no ifs, ands, or buts. Obedience is not an option. My friend Luis challenged me on that point one day. He asked me if obeying God and his word is an option. I said yes it is......but He told me if you are a follower of Jesus, obedience is not  an option. We must live in obedience to His word......period. I am thankful for the strong Christian leaders that are in my life to help me grow and learn. 

We need to, as Christians, we need to lift God on high. We need to put him back to first place in our hearts. We need to give Him his glory both now and in eternity!