picturesfromheaven

"On a Shelf"

This weekend was phenomenal. It was so exciting to see all three services from Tinley, and the Shorewood and Southbend campuses all worshipping together in one service at the Tinley Convention Center. Everyone involved did a bang up job. It was so fun and powerful at the same time. A strange combination until you realize that is the kind of God that we serve. He is compassionate, kind, full of humor, righteous, and powerful...all that and so much more. Unfortunately, many of us put God in a box...limiting the way with which He can relate to us. Please read the following devotion with an open heart and mind. Maybe...just maybe...you've been putting God in a box as well.

Picture…a group of people tidying up a storage area. When you look carefully, you will notice a woman putting a teddy bear in a box, and closing the lid. She labels the box, “God” and then puts it on a shelf. A young man rummages around the storage area until he finds a long narrow box. He puts a sword in the box and then carefully tapes down the lid, so no one can be accidentally harmed by its sharp edge. He also labels the box, “God.” The only other person in the room, an older gentleman, puts a red phone in a box, marks the box “God” and then puts it on the top shelf.

Hear…the Lord say, “People are always putting me in a box. They relate to me in a certain way, and that’s it. Some people think of me as a teddy bear, all loving and cuddly. They can’t imagine me as a God of judgment. Then there are others who only think of me as an avenging God, one who is just waiting for them to make a mistake so I can blast them with one of my lightening bolts. Of course there are those who just think of me as their emergency hotline when they have a need. But I want them to know that I am so much bigger and so much greater than they have allowed me to be in their lives. I want to show them my majesty and power, my righteousness and justice and my relentless love. People need to take me out of the box with which they are so comfortable so that I can show them the true me.”

Consider: It’s hard to imagine just how big and awesome our God truly is, but we need to try. We need to meditate on his Word long enough to discover for ourselves new aspects of his mighty character. Every time a new name of God was given to Old Testament saints they were learning more about their God. Have you been learning more about your God? Have you been expanding your knowledge of who HE IS? We know that he is our Comfort, Avenger, and Help in the time of need. He is our Healer, Deliverer, Savior, and Friend. But he is more. Think about it. Do you realize that right now he is rejoicing over you with singing as your lover? God is rejoicing over YOU! I don’t know how you normally relate to God, but isn’t it time that you take him out of the box. In fact, I suggest that you dynamite the box, and never allow yourself to be comfortable in the way you relate to God again. Take the limits off of God. Relate to him and see him in new and meaningful ways.

Pray: “I’m sorry that I have kind of locked you in a box. I didn’t realize I had done that. It certainly wasn’t intentional. I guess I just liked thinking of you as my Confidant and Friend. But that isn’t what you want for me, is it? You want me to see you and relate to you in new and significant ways. So Lord, I want you to know that when I meditate daily on your WORD, I will also meditate on your greatness. If there is a particular way in which you want me to see you, please show me. I love you, and I really want to see you as you are. I want to take the limits off. I want to remove the boundaries. I want to take you out of the box. Please, reveal yourself to me.”

posted by pastorc @ 8:33 AM