Imitators of Christ

(our theme for October)

Philippians 3:10 

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

Imagine a vessel filling with water, and everytime someone takes a drink a spring fills the vessel to overflowing. The more people who drink from the vessel the more the flow of the spring grows. This is how I imagined Sunday worship at some point in my life, as a way to fill my heart so that I may give more. A way to be close with God and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

But if the vessel moves from its source and the vessel runs dry, it is not the spring that stops. It is not the spring that has moved. It does not fail. It is the human heart that has moved by the will of a human guided by a human that thinks it knows better. A human who is constantly seeking does not understand how to fill a heart with the wellspring of the Holy Spirit that will never run dry.

At some point I ask myself, if worship is what fills me then why only worship on Sunday?

If worship is the intent to show homage and reverence then a worship service of praise and thanksgiving is what may come to mind. But if worship is the act of rejoicing in the teaching of Jesus and the gift of the resurrection, then we come to realize that carrying out what has been asked of us is an act of worship and praise and thanksgiving and power and love. A Sunday worship service inside of a church is one small part of what we are called to do.

It is not a question of whether we are summoned to attend church or summoned to go into the world and serve. It is a question of how we are to worship both in the church building and in the world.

To give and never run dry, to give until you cannot give more, how is a person to do this? A task so impossible only Jesus can fulfill this role. Knowing the power of the resurrection is living life in belief, word, and deed that demonstrates understanding of who Jesus is and how we are commanded to act.

The ebb and flow of my ability to give and share in love is the result of my movement closer and farther from the Holy Spirit daily. I give, and if I do not recognize my source of the living water, I run dry. Maturity leads to a wholeness in love- a heart filled with the Holy Spirit by a perpetual spring rejoicing and praising -Hallelujah! 

My prayer for today is that I may worship and sing in praise the glory of God in each moment of my day. May I always remember that the source of my ability to love and be loved rests in the resurrection of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen and Hallelujah!

This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.