Halfway Measures
Theme of the Week: Centering Down
Gerrit Gustafson
Monday, May 7, 2007
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce'" Matthew 15:8-9. Bonus Reading: Colossians 3:1-4
Involved in a project, I was torn between doing something with my son and finishing my work. But after a brief debate with myself—A good Christian dad would spend time with his son versus Yeah, but work is important, too—I went out to our driveway with him to play basketball. Well, to be honest, my body went out there, but the rest of me was still down in my office working.
After about ten minutes of playing what probably felt to him like a one-sided game, Brent said, "Dad, if you have something else to do, we don't have to do this." I was embarrassed and quickly called the rest of me out of the office to join us. I gave myself to playing with my son, and the activity turned out to be a lot more enjoyable—for both of us.
For days after that experience, God was teaching me something: If a ten-year-old boy knows when his dad's heart isn't in what he's doing, you can be sure that God knows exactly how much of us is really involved in our acts of praise. He expects us to give it our all. Just going through the motions equals unacceptable worship.
—Gerrit Gustafson in The Adventure of Worship
My Response: If worship is total self-giving, could I be counted among the worshipers last Sunday in my church?
Adapted from The Adventure of Worship (Chosen, 2006) by permission.
Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
When I feel driven and distracted, Your voice gets drowned out. Help me, Lord, to discover how to focus on Your presence in my life.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
