Series: Overflow
Message: Jesus. All.
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Reflection: Japhet De Oliveira
Live Wonder: Jessyka Dooley
Live Adventure: Jessyka Dooley
Live Purpose: Vanessa Rivera
Editor: Becky De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Revelation 4:8-11 in the New Testament For Everyone (NTE). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: It is normal for us to take most “things” for granted. It might not always be the best practice, but it certainly does feel incredibly normal. At least, that is what most of us would like to tell ourselves—that it is OK to take things for granted. Everyone does. We convince ourselves that we can do so without experiencing any negative effects. I have seen this all too often in my own life and in the lives of others.
I get frustrated when the things I take for granted do not work. This is a common feeling for most people. Thanksgiving morning, I was texting with a friend when he told me that his water heater had just died. What was he going to do now with so many extended family members in town, staying at his house? I am sure it became a Thanksgiving that no one will ever forget. But will it be remembered because the houseguests and hosts rallied around family or frustration?
On my last international flight, from Sydney to Houston, I opted for the WIFI package. I wanted to be able to work for the next 16 hours. Of course, there were a few times when my email did not instantly travel at 500+ mph, bounce off several satellites around the globe, and arrive in the Inbox of its intended recipient within the few seconds that I expected. Sometimes an email was delayed by a whole minute or two. How horrible! What a catastrophe! Far from it. We (I) simply become accustomed to a standard and take it for granted. We forget what an absolute technical engineering feat it is for the WIFI to even work at all, for data to be transferred in this manner and so quickly. It is painful to watch passengers, who seem to have left their sense of perspective at home, hurling insults at the flight attendants when the Internet or TV screen is down.
Could we have the same problem when it comes to the wonder of Jesus—that we too often take Him for granted? A passage like this, from the pen of the Apostle John, serves as a good reminder of just what a privilege it is to call Him our friend.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15, ESV)
Recalibrate: Make a list of the top 10 areas/things you take for granted. How would you show more appreciation for those areas/things?
Respond: Pray for an honest heart
Research: Explore ADRA or some other NGO and see how you can get involved.
Remember: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8, NIV).
Japhet is senior pastor at Boulder Adventist Church in Boulder, Colorado, and is co-founder of the One project. Originally from southeast London, he served in the South England Conference for nine years—as a pastor and later as conference youth director—before moving to the United States in 2006. He and his wife Becky have two sons, one at university and one in high school.
What is your personal style of worship? If there are multiple people in your family, discuss what their personal styles are. We are all different and connect with God in different ways. That doesn’t mean we can only connect in one way. What do you think your child’s style of worship is? Share some of your styles with one another today. If you like to open up your Bible, set your child on your lap and let them turn the pages while you share a little bit about some of your favorite stories. If your child really enjoys music, have them choose a song to play or sing together. If it’s nature, take a walk outside together. Think of some other ways you might enjoy worshipping God together that you have never tried!
Play your favorite worship song today. Play it in the car, play it at home, play it as much as you can! What do you like best about the song? What are your favorite words? Does this song make you want to dance? Clap your hands? Sing super loud? Worship is something that we do with our whole hearts and singing can help us worship with our whole hearts. Sing this song for Jesus at the top of your lungs today!
Have you ever put on a crown? Well, neither have I. My older sister did have a tiara in her bedroom as a keepsake from her Quinceañera, a Mexican celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday. On that special day, she wore a beautiful purple dress with that beautiful tiara. My older sister was very clear: we were not to play with the tiara. She had it strategically placed on the highest point on her dresser where she thought my younger sister and I would be unable to reach it. What did we do? According to our duty as her annoying younger sisters, any time she was out of the house and our parents weren’t looking, we would put on the tiara. Even if it was only for a few moments, we felt like royalty. We were always for looking for opportunities to put it on and we were sad when we had to take it off again. Verse 10 in this passage describes a scene where the elders are taking off their crowns and putting them down on the altar. What is your most prized possession? Would you be willing to lay that at the feet of Jesus and proclaim His worth?