Role Reversal

Tap, tap, tap.  That's God tapping on my heart.  One of those obvious Scriptural truths was delivered yesterday....It's funny, you can read the same story, year after year, hear it a thousand ways and still not see everything the Father puts in it.

I have started on my quest to "live like a disciple," delving into the life of Jesus and learning through His example and teaching.  So I started in Matthew.  I'm reading through the Gospels, including the commentary, along with a Bible guide to give more insight into the life and times of Jesus.  It was in the commentary that I saw the contrast between how we approach God and how He should be approached.  Not exactly a new concept, but definitely illuminating the difference between centuries, and the way we sometimes see God.

Matthew 2:9-11  After this interview the wise men went their way.  And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem.  It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were filled with  joy!  They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  

Okay, so now think about the last time you approached God.  Was there worship?  Was there joy? Did you offer him gifts?  Or did you, like me, offer a quick, generic thank you and then run right into what you needed for that day?  Was there awe and honor or was it rushed flippancy?  I definitely felt some conviction after reading this!

Now, I don't think we need to make going to our Father a big project.  We can come to Him with anything, at anytime, sometimes without words, crying out our need and heartache.  We can run into His arms in joy, in pain, in disappointment, in need, and in love.  Ephesians 3:12  Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence.  But wouldn't it be nice if sometimes, we came to our Savior in awe and worship, bringing Him the gift of our heart and lives.  Giving the gift of trust and submission?   Sometimes I think we just take God for granted.

Lord, forgive me for treating You as common.  You are God.  Your are amazing.  You are supreme. Righteousness, holiness, everlasting, unending, omnipotent....No one, nothing compares to You.  I worship You, who You are.  Merciful, loving, all knowing, kind, beautiful.  Lord, take the gift of my life, my heart.  I trust You.  Help me to submit myself to You fully.  I praise You this day.  I thank You for your patient, forgiving, loving heart.  I thank You teaching me new truths, helping me to see in new ways.  You are my Creator, my Savior, my Sustainer, my Father, and my God.

Check your approach today.  How are you treating God?