In 2007 I read a book by Patrick Morley called No Man Left Behind, no, it does not have anything to do with the Left Behind series. It is interesting to note that in his book Morley notes that, “You cannot produce worshipers by begging men to worship; you can’t produce tithers by guilting men to give; you can’t create evangelists simply by training men to share. Men will not worship a God they do not know and revere; they won’t give to a God they don’t love; and they won’t share about a God they aren’t passionate about” (No Man Left Behind 22-23).
As I consider what he said and I think about my life and your life...as I think about our church and the church...I have to ask the question are we more focused on behavior modification than we are on life transformation? Am I more comfortable with a list of do's and don't than I am with pursuing a radical intimate relationship with the sovereign God of the universe. I can control my list...I can't control HIM! However, my list is nothing more than behavior modification.
Yesterday I briefly referenced Jeremiah 9:23-24...Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.
In Jeremiah we learn that if we are going to boast about anything, we need to boast that we understand and know God! In Hosea 6:6 God tells us that..."I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." God does not need our sacrifices, HE does not need our offerings...HE desires our love and HE wants us to know HIM!
Why is God after this? Is HE lonely? Is HE on an ego trip? NO, NO! Remember HE created us in HIS image and after the fall the Creator had to recreate. We get a glimpse of what God is up to in 2 Co 3:16-18 "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
The goal is life transformation, the goal is that we become like Jesus. We see this further unfold in 2 Co 4:6 "For God, who said, [at creation] “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
As we behold God the Father in the face of Jesus Christ we are transformed and conformed to HIS image.
Honestly, I am tired of trying to modify my behavior...I can't do it, at least for very long! Oh how sweet when the Spirit of God moves on you and HE changes your affections and bends them toward HIM...it happens when HE shines the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ...beholding is becoming!
Zec 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.