Devotion: Revealed: When Jesus Shows Up
Revealed: When Jesus Shows Up
Please review the scripture from the weekend John 20:19-29
The church has, for generations, talked out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to worship. The church has pretty much always insinuated that you had to show up at the church building to experience Christ. I’m not saying this is an untruth. I am saying it is not the whole truth. Even more, most people inherently know that it is not the whole truth. How many of you have had “mountain top experiences” in nature, at a family meal or on the golf course (okay, more frustration than mountain top, but a time or two, at least)? Truth is, God is everywhere and Jesus shows us this when he appears to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Don’t get me wrong, few places serve as a better conduit for experiencing Christ than being in community – especially a healthy community and specifically with our church family. It is true, we experience Christ in worship and in fellowship when we gather. And, oh, how ready are we to gather!
I am also painfully aware that, as the pandemic becomes less a factor which controls our movements, there are lots of things we are ready to do. So, if we are going to become busier, what then is the role of church and what becomes of our faith?
In this new worship series, Revealed, we will explore having a heart for worship. When Jesus was alive he never inferred that worship was about a place. Jesus rarely worshiped in the Temple. For Jesus – especially as he appeared as the Risen Christ – faith and worship are about the orientation of your heart.
My question for you is: Are you willing to discipline yourself to continue to grow your faith and heart for worship, wherever you find yourself? Worship is always possible. How will you open your heart to allow Jesus in? I pray you will be here, or on the livestream, or in prayer, being open to those unexpected moments when Jesus will arrive.
Gracious God, make your heart ours. Give us the will to seek you, to believe in you and to worship your presence in our lives. Amen.
Written by Pastor Greg Bouvier
Pastor Greg heard God’s call to Sheridan in 1999 and that began a journey which has become his life’s work. Having played a variety of roles as pastor of Sheridan, Pastor Greg was called as the Senior Pastor in 2011. He leads the staff and his primary focus is on the creation of culture, the overall direction of worship and partnering with our amazing team. Pastor Greg has been married to Rose for more than 30 years and together they have two servant-hearted grown children.