Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1, NIV)
I have a buddy whose scorecard always makes me giggle. If we’re playing our regular foursome, it will read James, David, Drew, and “Me.” When he texts us pictures of his match play cards, they invariably show his opponent’s name vs. “Me.” Because of this habit, we no longer call our friend Mike. We call him Me.
While it may seem I intend to make “Me” look selfish, that’s just a writer’s ploy to get your attention. This devotion is really about me (the author) and my selfishness.
I’ve been reading the Daily Wisdom for Men devotional, and I recently came across this line: “Love for God, not self, motivates meaningful worship.” At first glance, it may not seem attention-grabbing, but when I read it, I heard a record scratch in my head.
A quick review of my recent prayers revealed the following self-interest laundry list: “Heal my wife.” “Provide margin in our finances.” “Let me play well in the club championship.”
Sadly, the last one isn’t a joke. I shudder to think where these prayer selfies would rank on the “love God and love others” scale.
This revelation brought me back to one of my favorite 2×4-to-the-head reminders: “It’s not about you.” That’s the opening line of Rick Warren’s bestseller, The Purpose-Driven Life, and it’s a clear reminder that we’re not here to consume; we’re here to worship, and I have been failing in this department recently.
What I’m about to tell you doesn’t bring me joy, but perhaps this confession will bring comfort to some. I tend to make Sunday church services about me. I am sometimes late, I’m not the most pleasant passer of the peace, and for some reason, I get my spiritual knickers in a knot when I sense a singer on stage is “over-worshipping.”
Instead of giving God glory, my mind is on me. Ugh! Like Paul, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15)
Well, I had a breakthrough this past Sunday. At the end of the service, the band played Called Me Higher by All Sons & Daughters. I steeled myself to sing the whole song out loud, which is out of my comfort zone, and by golly, I did. And I got emotional, tearing up at the line, “And I could hold on, I could hold on to who I am and never let you change me from the inside.”
Then I did an un-me thing. I started to move. And groove. In church! I often wonder, “Why don’t I have that joy and dance like nobody’s watching?”
At that moment, it dawned on me that their worship is motivated by God, and they’re dancing precisely because he is watching.
A smile came across my face as I realized the proper motivation was bringing on this meaningful worship, and by letting go, I was allowing Him to change me from the inside.
Prayer: Lord, help us worship you in ways that please you. Let us sing from a posture of gratitude. Let us pray prayers you want to hear. Please help us respond when you call us higher.