We all love to get stuff. We love to be recognized. We love to be applauded for our performances and achievements. I mean, who wouldn’t? The Bible’s teaching on rewards is bit different than our culture portrays. Simply put, you won’t learn this anywhere but from God.

God says:

1. Be poor
2. Be hungry
3. Weep
4. Be hated

Before you stone me, let me explain what these four statements mean (taken from Luke 6:20-35). There is a ‘biblical’ way and a wrong way to interpret them. Underlying these statements (from Jesus Himself) is an underlying Biblical truth:

SEEK YOUR REWARDS IN HEAVEN

There is no innate virtue in poverty. There is, though, in humbly trusting Christ rather than your personal wealth. There is no innate virtue in starving yourself. There is, though, in seeking after righteousness and longing for the day when you will be truly satisfied in eternity. there is no innate virtue in weeping. There is, though, in recognizing the suffering you experience will not be forever and longing for the day when Christ will ‘wipe away every tear’. There is no innate virtue in being hated, especially for your own stupidity. There is, though, in being hated for your allegiance to Jesus Christ.

Do these things, and your reward will be great in Heaven. Looking forward to it.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).

Biblical worship will always be shrouded in mystery. While we are commanded to love the Lord “with our understanding”, we will never fully understand. If you are waiting till you fully understand God before you worship, you will never worship. The eons of eternity will be insufficient in revealing the fullness of God.

I love this passage of Scripture. Paul just finished unpacking a very deep theological passage that is Romans 9-11. What is his response to truths that are hard to understand? Worship.

When it’s all said and done, worship remains. When our minds cannot fully grasp the depths of God’s wisdom, what can we do? Worship.

Is this an excuse for lazy Bible study or no Bible study? Nothing could be further from the truth.

If you study the Bible for the rest of your life and seek to understand every theological position, yet lack worship in your heart, it is lifeless. Stare into the mystery of God’s glory today…and worship.

It has been great going through these 40 Days of Consistency with my worship team. It has personally helped me to be driven by Biblical values instead of just a task list. Tasks lists are good, but they must proceed from faith and the Word of God.

Consider the verse for this week:

“I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened…” (Psalm 66:17).

It is possible to cry to God with our mouth, have high praise on our tongue, and yet cherish iniquity in our hearts. Remember Isaiah 29:13?

“…this people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me.”

God does not listen or receive that kind of worship. It is a dishonor to him rather than a cherishing of His name. The essence of worship is cherishing God. He is our treasure. He is our highest value. Growing in our worship means growing in our cherishing of Jesus.

Is He daily becoming more valuable to you? Are your affections for Jesus growing as you worship with your local church or are you worshiping with your mouth and yet cherishing sin in your heart?

The more I observe my generation, and the more I look into my own heart, the more I see how unsatisfied we are. We don’t like our current job situations. We don’t like the ministry opportunities God has given us. We’re longing for the day when it will be better.

What is wrong with this outlook?

It is too easy to miss the moment.

What if we began to adopt a radical view on life where we chose to love where we are? Sure, it is healthy to dream and await the fulfillment of those dreams, but we miss out on the joys of today when we choose to live unsatisfied.

I am personally trying to make this a part of my daily routine – Love where you are! In all my current responsibilities, ministries, and relationships, I will not allow dissatisfaction to take its toll on me. I will invest myself in the purpose of God today and choose to love every minute of it.

There’s an adventure waiting for those who take the challenge.

Over the past couple months, I have been preparing for a missions trip with the Young Adults. Throughout this preparation process, it has occurred to me that evangelism is only effective if we speak out of experience. Yes, we preach the Gospel. But have we experienced the Gospel? Yes, we tell people God is great. But have we experienced His greatness? Have you ever had a boring teacher throughout high school or college? What makes that teacher boring? The reason is that they are simply spitting out information; they don’t necessarily love what they are saying.

What in the world does this have to do with worship, you may ask? Everything. Consider this Scripture:

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!” (Psalm 97:1).

Before you can reflect God, you must experience God. Do you approach God out of duty or joy? Gladness or guilt? The goal of worship is not simply for us to do it, but that the nations might also be glad in God. Your life will speak volumes to unbelievers when they see that you are glad in God, no matter what you are going through.

Will you approach God with gladness this week? Is He your joy?