Have you ever sat on a beach, relaxing and resting, feeling the sand between your toes, listening to the rolling waves, and wondered why it can't always be like this? After spending time recently in the Outer Banks with my feet in the sand, this question came to my mind. And then an answer came. It can be. In a way.
As a worship pastor, I often feel the strain of so many varying preferences from people. It more than often than not strips me of the feeling of rest that I experienced on that beach. The worship team members and I have a tough job trying to make everyone happy. The fact is... we can't. The fact is... we shouldn't. There's only One we need to make happy. And its the same One who sat with me on that beach. Barefoot.
I sat on the beach with my bare feet in the sand looking out over God's powerful and awesome creation and I thought of Moses at the burning bush. As Moses approaches the burning bush from which projected the very voice of God, the Lord tells him to remove his sandals. He is standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). Moses removes his sandals as an act of reverence, showing his own unworthiness before a most worthy God.
That beach was holy ground for me. A place where I looked for God and found him. As a result it was a place where God brought rest to me. I was glad to be barefoot. Feeling his creation intimately. And in a physical way feeling the incredible power of God's hand. Recognizing my own unworthiness in light of his great worth.
I can have that "beach" feeling more often. Sure. We all can. But it requires us caring more about what God thinks rather than on what others think of us. We find true rest in Him. Not in others.
I was once chastised for leading worship on stage barefoot.
Perhaps we should all worship barefoot a little more often.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott
As a worship pastor, I often feel the strain of so many varying preferences from people. It more than often than not strips me of the feeling of rest that I experienced on that beach. The worship team members and I have a tough job trying to make everyone happy. The fact is... we can't. The fact is... we shouldn't. There's only One we need to make happy. And its the same One who sat with me on that beach. Barefoot.
I sat on the beach with my bare feet in the sand looking out over God's powerful and awesome creation and I thought of Moses at the burning bush. As Moses approaches the burning bush from which projected the very voice of God, the Lord tells him to remove his sandals. He is standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). Moses removes his sandals as an act of reverence, showing his own unworthiness before a most worthy God.
That beach was holy ground for me. A place where I looked for God and found him. As a result it was a place where God brought rest to me. I was glad to be barefoot. Feeling his creation intimately. And in a physical way feeling the incredible power of God's hand. Recognizing my own unworthiness in light of his great worth.
I can have that "beach" feeling more often. Sure. We all can. But it requires us caring more about what God thinks rather than on what others think of us. We find true rest in Him. Not in others.
I was once chastised for leading worship on stage barefoot.
Perhaps we should all worship barefoot a little more often.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott