Designer Goodness

Genesis 1:26-28, 31 NASB
"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."

Every time I read Genesis I learn something more about our creator God the designer of our hearts.
I love that He says "Let us create man in our image." This references is also made in John 1 all things were made through Him the holy trinity. God was not alone creating the cosmos, the Father, Spirit and Son were in agreement creating all of existence.

I love how He pauses and says everything is good after he creates it. I imagine a master craftsman impressing himself and enjoying his handwork. Kicking back and enjoying what he has just done. When God rests on the 7th day it is not because he was tired, or needed a break from all that hard work. Scholars maintain that "rest" in the Hebrew is closer to the meaning of the word enjoy. On the 7th day God enjoyed his creation. (There is a great book called Sabbath by Dan Allender, if you are interested.)

Now sitting in His presence where He enjoys us I can't help but think about how He created us in His image and called us good. God calling us good has more to do with who He is than what we are. We tend to think we have been good or bad, but the bible says there is only one who is good. The Designer. Now Jesus died and saved us from sin so now the Father sees the Son's righteousness instead of our sin, and we are covered by His sacrifice. Yet again it is about who He is, not what we are.

I am beginning to understand creation more when I realize design is about the designer, not the designed.

-=What does this mean for our worship?=-
We worship God for who He is. We should worship Him, worship as designed, in accordance to His will, with His Spirit, in His presence, made possible through His sacrifice.

Surrender our idols and sacrifice only to Him, for Him. Jesus' life was an example of worship for us to follow. God who designed the worshiper shows us how to worship, to seek him in spirit and in truth.

I surrender my preferences and styles of worship to His will, Lord teach me how to worship. Show me your design.

Holding Nothing Back

What does this mean for our worship?

We were dead, and because He died and conquered death we now have life. Life to the full, more abundantly. What do we do with this new life, now that we are free? How could we use this time for anything other than thanking the one who gave it to us? Worship can be a thanks to God, for all that he has done for us, before we were even born. 

Yet i will Rejoice!

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor the fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet i will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."
-Habakkuk 3:17-19

I will have days when it seems like God isn't near to me, or i am not near to Him. On those days or hours, minuets, seconds what attitude should i take? It is easy to pout, or be grumpy and say things like, "Lord why?" or, "I just don't feel like praising you right now, I'm not in the mood."

The word of God says something should be different in the heart of a worshiper. The example of worshipers in the old and new testament are like Habakkuk, Job, Paul... the list goes on. They worship God regardless of the day, what has happened to them, how they feel, or what He wants them to do. (Jonah isn't in this group, his fish might be)

What does this mean for our worship?
God is to be worshiped always, regardless of our mood, our state of heart, our worldview, our distractions, our sin. Simply because He is God. Worship is taking joy in God, delighting in Him, and giving everything to Him no matter the times. This is a state of worship, to be giving to God.
We tend to talk about "corporate worship" as "worship," when we sing and pray together, and that is when God moves in us together. I cherish those times, but maybe God is calling you to one-on-one worship. To grow your heart, and shape it like his, into an obedient joy.

I think that complaining is the enemy of giving praise. Pray against the spirit of complaining.