The Giver

Last time we talked about giving God all that we are, today we concentrate on what God gives us.

Some Sabbath services just don't seem to be inspiring. We don't seem to get anything out of them, especially a feeling of God's presence.

Now, last Sabbath was inspiring! The climax of Project G on Friday night was wonderful and the programme on Sabbath morning, outside in the sun with great singing and preaching, was not just memorable, but definitely inspiring. Thanks to all the youth.

However, when we go from such a high experience back to the usual... it can seem a little flat. Chris Thomlinson in this Friday's men's devotional quotes from his book, "Crave":

We don't always feel God's presence, and we aren't always consumed with intense feelings of joy. But even in those times, we can remember that we will find the greatest kind of joy in God and that we do what's best for ourselves when we orient our lives around Jesus, knowing that even if we experience some measure of sorrow in this life, the life to come will bring the fullness of joy in his presence.

"Orient our lives around Jesus"... I really love the concept that we can be constantly looking to Jesus, navigating our life by Him and making Him the goal of our daily walk.

One of our present-day problems is that we chase sensations and feelings. Our entertainment has to be intense, our feelings modulated by caffeine (or stronger), our food has to be "sensational" in presentation and taste. After all this, no wonder Sabbath sermons can seem mundane.

The solution, as Chris Thomlinson suggests, is to crave not sensation, but God Himself. David says the same thing,

"Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of the your heart." Ps 37:4

.
Chris says, in Thursday's devotional,

Our cravings for more of God and the joy we find in him are both gifts, but we should always value the Giver far more than the gift.

Long term inspiration, even through uninspiring times, comes from constantly valuing and delighting in our great God.