In his book The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis wrote, “If all experienced God in the same way and returned Him an identical worship, the song of the Church triumphant would have no symphony, it would be played like an orchestra in which all instruments played the same note.”

We are his instruments. We each play a different part in the symphony of the Church triumphant. God, Who is wondrous and more unfathomable than any of us can imagine, created us as instruments to resound His glory. It would be small of us to think, then, that the way we connect with God individually is the best or only way to connect with God.

The way we individually connect with God is called our Spiritual Pathway. God knows us intimately and created us uniquely (Psalm 139)! John Ortberg* explains that a spiritual pathway has to do with the way we, individually, most naturally sense God’s presence and experience spiritual growth. All of have at least one pathway that comes easily to us. On the other hand, there are one or two pathways that come unnaturally to us, and require us to stretch beyond what comes naturally to pursue them. There is a freedom in identifying our unique spiritual pathways, and for the pathways that come unnaturally, there is a challenge to stretch beyond our comfort zones, to experience God in new and exciting ways.

So, what are these Spiritual Pathways?

1. The Intellectual Pathway. People who most identify with this pathway draw closer to God as they learn more about Him. Crises or spiritual challenges send you into an analytical mode, and you are typically a problem-solver. You are in good company; the apostle Paul likely walked this pathway. The danger with the Intellectual Pathway is that head knowledge may not become heart attitude.

2. The Relational Pathway. A person who walks the Relational Pathway finds an intimacy with God as they grow in relationships with other people. Small groups appeal to you, if walk the Relational Pathway, because God speaks to you most through people. The apostle Peter, who was “BFF’s” with James and John, likely walked the Relational Pathway. One strength of this pathway is that it leads, as Ortberg describes, to a relationally rich life because of the need to be a part of friendships and small groups that grow in depth and vulnerability. Dangers to be aware of with this pathway are superficiality, dependency on others, and worrying about what others think. Solitude may be a stretch for you to practice in your worship of the Lord.

3. The Serving Pathway. If you are on the Serving Pathway, you experience the presence of God most tangibly by helping others. You feel His delight in you most when you are doing something, like stacking chairs, making coffee, decorating, etc… In the book of Acts (ch.9, verses 36-42), a woman named Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) was mentioned because she was always doing good and helping the poor. One way she helped was in dressmaking for widows. She used her hands-on skills to serve others. A danger to this pathway is that when you are not serving in church, you may feel distant from God, and you may begin to feel a temptation to think that God is present in your life ONLY when you are serving. Also, there is a danger in feeling resentment toward those who are NOT serving.

4. The Worship Pathway. If you are on this pathway, you have the natural gift for expression and celebration. Praise and adoration for the Lord make you feel filled with His presence. In contrast to intellectuals, who may be checking their watches during praise and worship music at church, you are filled with emotion, and long to say “Sing it again!” This expressiveness may not be a part of your daily conversation, but is most seen in your worship style. King David is a likely example of the Worship Pathway. He used music, poetry, dance, and prose to express worship of his Creator and Sustainer. Like David, you may need to worship in this way on a regular basis to feel God’s presence in your life. The danger in this pathway is that you may feel like judging others who are not as expressive.

We will introduce a few more pathways tomorrow, and discuss them in a special Sunday School hour this Sunday, October 20^th.

After reading so far, what do you think your pathway is? How does this help you understand yourself? How does it help you understand others?

Prayer: Reflecting specifically on this devotional, write out a prayer to God.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

A Rumor of Life

Scripture reading: Luke 15:11-31

In many rooms of my house there are small “pinch pots” that my children have made throughout the years in elementary school. The imprints of my children’s fingers are pressed all over the clay, adding texture and personality to the humble artwork. The pots are colorful and unique, but misshapen. Some of them have chipped. I use some to hold loose change, candles, jewelry, or safety pins. Some of them I just can’t figure out a use for yet, and maybe they are more useful as reminders of childhood than anything else. But they all had a sculptor who enjoyed creating and forming them, shaping them into their current existence. And they were all given to me with love and excitement, and with a precious smiling face. But I also have beautiful vases, statues, pots, and bowls designed and sculpted by masterful artists who know not one thing about me; and yet I paid for them to beautify my home. Even still, the pinch pots mean much more to me than any of those artist’s skillful works. The pinch pots are indeed misshapen, but to me, they are reminder of precious life.

In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “This world is a great sculptor’s shop. We are the statues and there is a rumor going around the shop that some of us are someday going to come to life.”

The sculpted things in my house will never come to life, no matter who made them, or how much I appreciate them. However, the Sculptor of our lives designed us to have life. Not only did He give us life, but there is a rumor going around that Jesus came that we might have life more abundantly! Actually, it is not a rumor. It is recorded so in John 10:10.

Often we have a mixed-up view of what it means to have life more abundantly. Does having life more abundantly mean always having a good time, money to spend, and good food, drink, and belongings? In Luke 15:11-31, Jesus told us of a prodigal son who thought so. He wanted an abundant life so much that he spent his inheritance and risked his relationship with his father to find it.

On the other hand, do we find an abundant life through conforming to moral standards (moralism)? The prodigal son’s brother seemed to think so. To him, an abundant life seemed to come through approval of his respectable behavior. He stayed home, was faithful to work for his father, and expected praise and favorable acceptance in return for his goodness.

The prodigal son showed open rebellion in his search for an abundant life. The prodigal’s brother showed covert, or secret, rebellion. Looking for abundance or even acceptance by rebellion in any way will leave us misshapen and lifeless. Only in finding life in Christ can we can we be shaped into a masterpiece and find life more abundantly.

Charles Spurgeon encouraged us to pray this: “Lord, nurture in me all the Graces, powers and faculties by which I can glorify you… Send a full stream of life upon me that all my soul may wake up and all that is within me may magnify you. Get all out of me that can possibly come out of such a poor thing as I am. Let the Spirit work in me to the praise of the glory of your grace.”

Do you believe the rumor that you can have life more abundantly if you set your eyes and mind and heart on Christ?

The Sculptor is creating a masterpiece through us. He can bring us to abundant life.

C. H. Spurgeon, sermon # 1150, Life More Abundantly, January 4, 1874, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit.

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Personal Reflection or Discussion Questions

What is my vision for having life more abundantly?

What is my primary mode of rebellion? Is it open or covert?

What is the difference between moralism (conforming to moral standards) and godliness?

In what ways can moralism actually be a hindrance to having an abundant life?

Prayer: Reflecting specifically on this devotional, write out a prayer to God.