Decked Out

If I had an Armani for every time I have heard it said, "You should dress in accordance with being in the presence of the King of the Universe! You would never go into the Oval Office in a tee shirt and jeans!" or something like that, I'd belong on the red carpet of some award show. It seems like we put a premium on cultural standards of dress and how we would appear before people, particularly in worship.

I wonder, if we looked at each other as if the very presence of God is in them, and we realized that we lived there at all times through the Holy Spirit, would we feel the need to "dress up" at all times?

I do not hold it against anyone who feels the need to "dress up" for church services if that is what one feels the need to do. However, I would suggest that anyone, at any given moment, could already be "decked out" even if we don't see it with our human eyes.

I read Psalm 5 today in "The Message." I love the wording of a couple of phrases: "And here I am, Your invited guest--it's incredible!" David was clearly excited to be in the presence of God, flabbergasted that He would be invited by God as such.

Do I get, on a regular basis, so excited and amazed to realize that, at all times, I am invited by God into His presence?

He writes, "But You'll welcome us with open arms when we run for cover to You. You are famous, God, for decking us out in delight." I don't know what "delight" looks like, exactly, but there isn't a thread that will create something like this.

I can only conclude some proclamations from this: I am invited! God decks me out in delight! I am clothed in  God's delight! If that doesn't amaze me, nothing will.

The Bible is chock-full of stories of people decked out in God's delight. Enoch walked with God, welcomed into His presence, and wound up walking with God right into heaven. Noah found grace in God's eyes and became the father of the rebuilt human race. Abraham was invited into God's presence, to walk with God to a new land, and became the father of God's chosen people to bring salvation to the world. Jacob wrestled with God--very much in His presence--and He was renamed for it (Israel means, "Contends with God," and it is said as a favorable thing). Moses noticed God and walked right into His presence at the burning bush, then was given the "clothing" of leadership to take Israel away from captivity. David was called a man after God's own heart. Daniel was honored in exile, given crucial prophecies, and worshipped only in the presence of the true God. The disciples accepted the invitation of God-the-Son, Jesus Christ, and followed Him, remaining in His presence and then establishing the Church.

In Revelation, "He who overcomes," and the one who "opens the door" when Jesus knocks gets to dine with Jesus, is cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, is honored by being invited to sit with Him on His throne.

Every day God welcomes those who seek Him into His presence. In the Holy Spirit we find ourselves before His throne. We who seek God and claim Jesus as Lord and Savior are "decked out" in His righteousness because of our faith in Him--decked out in God's delight because He Himself said, "This is dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." (Matthew 3:17, NLT).

Some things to consider:

• Am I a welcoming channel for others into the presence of God?
• Do I allow God to deck people out in His delight, or am I claiming His prerogative as my own?
• Do I believe I am in the presence of God, even right now, through the Holy Spirit because of my faith in the righteousness of Jesus? Do I act as if I believe that?

Blessings today! Add thoughts of your own in the comments!

Community and Risk

We in America are a blessed people in a blessed nation.

The average American makes $73,573 before taxes. Strikingly, the average American spends $60,060 of that... again, before taxes. That does not leave a lot available to save, obviously. Breaking it down further, the greatest expenditures are housing ($19,884), food ($7700, $3000 of which is spent going out to eat), and insurance ($6771). If you combined going out to eat with entertainment (the 6th largest expenditure at $3203), this would add up to the 4th largest expenditure, but I digress... this isn't about critiquing all of that.

Really, what strikes me today is that insurance number. More than $564 per month is spent on this, and for many people, that is a low number. My job requires me to carry a high premium on auto insurance, for instance (I am fortunate that about 35% of that is offset by assistance to carry that much, but even after that it's more than a lot of people pay, all factors considered). Many pay big money for health insurance. And let's not forget that all these averages are just that: the average between high and low income earners and expenditures.

Big insurance categories include health, auto, homeowners, and life. Most insurances fall under those umbrellas, with several sub-categories. What I find amusing is "supplementals," or insurance that insures against insurance not insuring (covers co-pays and other things most policies won't)!

I'm not even going to get into it any further, because, well, I don't want to. It's a rabbit hole I don't want to dive into. It is just an illustration for a spiritual observation.

If followers of Jesus operated as the Bible instructs a community to operate, how much easier would it be to manage risk?

A few passages of Scripture come to mind:

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have allen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:9-10)

"... Do not stand idly by when your neighbor's life is threatened. I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:16).

"There should be no poor among you, for the LORD your God will greatly bless you in teh land he is giving you as a special possession." (Deuteronomy 15:4)

"... 'And who is my neighbor?'" (Luke 10:29, followed by the parable of the Good Samaritan)... "'Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?' Jesus asked. The man replied, 'The one who showed him mercy.' Then Jesus said, 'Yes, now go and do the same.'" (Luke 10:36-37).

After the first community of Jesus's followers was formed, in Acts 2:44-45: "And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need."

Historically, communities spread risk among its members. People hunted in groups to reduce the likeliness that one person would get gored by and elk or a bison. Goods were shipped among several caravans to insure against the whole shipment being stolen by bandits. The first written insurance policy could be found on the Babylonian "Hammurabi Code." In Judaism, the community was responsible to, together, assist their people in times of distress.

It isn't so simple as saying, "Let's get rid of all that insurance stuff and trust God and each other!" That would not be responsible and would lead to presuming on the kindness of others. However, I feel there are principles to at least consider here.

1. Individually, we begin by trusting God as the ultimate protection against ultimate risk. Ultimate risk isn't losing your house to a fire. It's losing your eternal life. It's falling away from the great plan of God for your life.
2. Followers of Jesus should be the community who cares so much for each other that that we eagerly build into the community the ability to help any of its members who are in need. We must eschew the attitude that says, "So sorry for what you are going through, but I am not responsible for your misfortune," in favor of an attitude of eagerness that says, "Whatever you are going through, we are here to help!"
3. Individually, as part of a community, we should not presume on others' kindness and generosity, or wrongly take advantage of people. If you don't contribute to the community as you are able, you really don't have the right to constantly ask for its assistance. Paul was pretty clear when he said that those who refuse to work should not be allowed to partake of the assistance of the church.

I'm sure more principles could be gleaned from this, beyond what I consider in my devotional time. What are your thoughts? Any principles you might add when it comes to the community of Christ-followers and how we help each other?