The Discipline of Dismay

Earlier this week Phil and I were at the bookstore when I noticed the book, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I've never read it, but would like to. I flipped to the devotion for that day and found this....

The Discipline of Dismay

As they followed they were afraid —Mark 10:32

At the beginning of our life with Jesus Christ, we were sure we knew all there was to know about following Him. It was a delight to forsake everything else and to throw ourselves before Him in a fearless statement of love. But now we are not quite so sure. Jesus is far ahead of us and is beginning to seem different and unfamiliar— “Jesus was going before them; and they were afraid” (Mark 10:32).

There is an aspect of Jesus that chills even a disciple’s heart to its depth and makes his entire spiritual life gasp for air. This unusual Person with His face set “like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7) is walking with great determination ahead of me, and He strikes terror right through me. He no longer seems to be my Counselor and Friend and has a point of view about which I know nothing. All I can do is stand and stare at Him in amazement. At first I was confident that I understood Him, but now I am not so sure. I begin to realize that there is a distance between Jesus and me and I can no longer be intimate with Him. I have no idea where He is going, and the goal has become strangely distant. Jesus Christ had to understand fully every sin and sorrow that human beings could experience, and that is what makes Him seem unfamiliar. When we see this aspect of Him, we realize we really don’t know Him. We don’t recognize even one characteristic of His life, and we don’t know how to begin to follow Him. He is far ahead of us, a Leader who seems totally unfamiliar, and we have no friendship with Him.

The discipline of dismay is an essential lesson which a disciple must learn. The danger is that we tend to look back on our times of obedience and on our past sacrifices to God in an effort to keep our enthusiasm for Him strong (see Isaiah 1:10-11). But when the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come the ability to follow Jesus truly, which brings inexpressibly wonderful joy.

It couldn't have hit the nail on the head any harder!!

Worship

Last night we went to a praise and worship event at church called Satellite. Four area worship leaders came together and brought some of their favorite songs to share. It was such an awesome night!

One of the local worship leaders was sharing a story about a point in time when his walk with Christ took a drastic change. He told us of his upbringing, how his grandmother was the secretary of the church he attended, which was a major factor in even going in the first place. He shared with us about an event he had gone to where those who were attending would simply shout out their favorite hymn number that they wanted to sing. As he sat with the others he heard his favorite song begin to play, "Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!", but soon realized one odd thing. As they all were singing this song, nobody was actually standing. A little ironic, don't you think?! How can we say one thing, but act completely the opposite?

Have you ever been in church while everyone was sitting and singing, to later see a few people rise to their feet? Or have you been standing with others as they lift their hands to Christ, fall to their knees, or even clap and sway? Lately, I'd say in the last 2 or 3 years, I've been amazed over and over by one thing in particular, and I was reminded of it yet again last night. Youth who lift their hands to Christ in praise. There's just something about it that hits me time and time again. As I stood singing with everyone else, folks all around the room were praising the Lord, but the 8 youth in front of me continually caught my eye.

I'll be honest and say that my knowledge of worship within the Bible in a bit limited. I mean, we all know its important, but why? What does the Bible say about worship, what is it, what does it look like, why do we do it? A few weeks ago our worship leader tackled this topic with one of the most amazing sermons I've ever heard....check it out here. It made be appreciate these youth even more.