Originally written several years ago – some content may be dated but the message is timeless.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLEAN HANDS, PURE HEART AND MIND
I remember a time when I sang in a choir at church and didn’t really … really … have a relationship with my God. Oh, I was saved when I was younger… but relationship… a relationship with my God. There came a time when I asked myself if I had clean hands, pure heart, and mind to have a deeper relationship with God? Let’s look at what a relationship is. There were 3 different ideas when I Googled the definition for Relationship. This is one of them. I like this one considering how we are “related” to Jesus, but it is not exactly the one I was looking for but read on.
Relationship: the state of being connected by blood or marriage.
“They can trace their relationship to a common ancestor”
Synonyms: family ties, family connections, blood ties, blood relationship, kinship, common ancestry, common lineage (I may have to do a series on this one also… to explain how we are connected to Jesus)
The Merriam Webster definition is this:
Relationship: the way in which two or more people, groups, countries, etc., talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other
I like the part that says “talk to”, “behave toward” and “deal with each other”. You cannot have a relationship unless these elements are present. It’s not a relationship otherwise. It is just knowing each other.
OK, back to singing in the choir. I sang all the good old hymns and all the wonderful praise and worship songs. I loved them. I love music. I have been raised with music all my life. Secular music and church music. Music – I think it flows through my veins. However, when I began to understand that the “Choir Director” was so much more than just “directing the choir” … he was tasked with leading the congregation into the very presence of Almighty God! To Worship… to lead worship. The Praise and Worship Leader title for that individual came about with the advent of “Contemporary Worship” I believe. It describes what that person really is to do. To lead the people in worship of God. To show how and why we are to worship God Almighty. The choir at the same time is to do the same. The choir should be considered worship leaders as well and are considered this by the Worship Leaders. At least I have been told by more than one that this is what he expected of us as a choir.
So, when I realized this and me being in the choir, I began to take it a lot more seriously. I began to analyze my life and ask myself… “Am I living the life of a worship leader?” “Am I being the example that God wants me to be?” “What are the “standards” for being a worship leader?” “If my Worship Leader was living like I was, would I approve?” Well… I will tell you that those are just a few of the questions I asked myself. Needless to say, I dropped out of choir for a while. Why? Because I was not living the life I should have been as a Christian worship leader, and I felt very convicted! I was not really worthy of “leading worship” of any kind. I worshiped my lifestyle … I was not worshiping God. Oh, I sang the songs and felt the emotions… but … I don’t know… it is just not the same now. It is so much deeper and more meaningful. It has been such a journey for me the last 4-5 years. It has really blown me away how God has revealed Himself to me. However, it wasn’t until I began to seek Him. I turned away from what I was doing and sought His will. Oh, He was always there. Waiting. Loving. Knowing. Waiting. Waiting for me to wake up! When I did it really made so much of a difference! He was waiting and I am glad He was!
All I know is this… if you are involved in any kind of worship “leadership” you need to make sure you are clean from the inside out. Clean Hands, Pure Heart, and Mind. God knows the difference. He loves you anyway, but He does require pure worship of Him. He wants clean hands, a pure heart and mind and a pure motive! Are you worshiping to please you, others, or Him?
There is a story in the Bible that makes me shake my head every time I hear it. At first, I thought… wow… that’s a little harsh… but “God is God and I am not” I love that phrase … I heard my pastor say it more than once and I really like it. Let me explain the story a little.
Moses had a brother named Aaron. Aaron had 4 sons:
2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Now Arron’s first born Nadab and the next born Abihu offered unauthorized fire … well, I think if you read what the Bible says it will make more sense… read what happened…
1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying:
‘By those who come near Me
I must be regarded as holy;
And before all the people
I must be glorified.’”
So, Aaron held his peace.
Aaron understood Moses plain and clear. His sons were disobedient, and they paid the price. I began my relationship with God and realized I had many things I needed to … had to clean up! When I did, I can’t tell you how much sweeter my relationship became. It deepened my faith; it opened up my heart and mind to things I never imagined. God is God and I am not, and I am glad of it!
If you don’t have a relationship with God today, please call out to Him. If there are things you need to “clean up” in your life, then do it! God is always there waiting. You miss so much of God if you don’t. God wants clean hands, pure hearts, and minds. He will help you if you just ask. He loves you so much. After all, He calls you His beloved!
In Him,
Leah,
Le**@My*******.com
+ There are no comments
Add yours