Was hanging with my good buddy Isaac on Sunday night. We went to Jazz at Jack's to see Nelson Rangell (a world-class smooth jazz artist) free of charge, have a drink, and hang out. Had a great time!
One thing that Isaac and I ended up discussing that evening was that every good gift comes from God. As we listened intently to the sweet and soulful melodies coming from the instruments of some extremely gifted musicians, we were in awe of how awesome God is. That's right, sitting in a "secular" atmosphere taking in a "secular" concert, we experienced God! Reminded us of what James said in his letter to the churches:
"Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows." (James 1:17, NLT version)
James was speaking of God's character, and using it to encourage his audience to live holy and right before him... but this statement about God's character reveals something important to us: Every good thing comes from above - from God. What is good? Well, that can be an interesting question in and of itself - yet there are at least a few things we know are good. God is good, and everything God created is good. He said it in Genesis 1!
Sitting there enjoying an amazing gift of God on display was incredible. It was nothing less than his creation on display - God created the lips and the lungs and the brain to work together in rhythm and unity to create unique and spontaneous joyful sounds of musical ingenuity. Nelson Rangell wasnt performing to God directly, I think he was playing about love, and life and passion. I dont know if he knows God. However, the gift of God was on full display nonetheless, and for that reason, we could sit and enjoy God's handywork in all its reflective glory.
This brought us to the fact that every good gift of man is from God. Watching a star athlete compete with vigor in his sport, or a visual artist creating something beautiful and unique from paint and an empty canvas, or a skillful surgeon cutting and repairing the human body. The same with a mathematician at his computations, an Olympic diver coming off the board in perfect form, or a skilled botanist caring for his plants. All are good things, because God created them and the ability to do them in us, the human race -- the amazing creshendo of all his creation.
In this way, what some call secular can be deeply Christian. The line between "secular" and "Christian" has been skewed for centuries by religious men. Yet God created every good thing, be it directly aimed to Him or indirectly. Thank God we have the freedom to enjoy it, and celebrate it!
Our responsibility then, as sincere followers of Jesus the Christ, is to tell others the good news of what he has done for us in making us right with God... so that in turn others can practice their gifting within the context of a restored relationship with God for themselves. But let us no longer seperate ourselves from the everyday activities of the world (which in most cases are laced with the gifts of Gods creation), but let us enter in to the worlds systems with the purpose of redeeming them (and the lost within them) back to God for His glory.
Thank God for every good thing in this life - for they all come from Him.
One thing that Isaac and I ended up discussing that evening was that every good gift comes from God. As we listened intently to the sweet and soulful melodies coming from the instruments of some extremely gifted musicians, we were in awe of how awesome God is. That's right, sitting in a "secular" atmosphere taking in a "secular" concert, we experienced God! Reminded us of what James said in his letter to the churches:
"Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows." (James 1:17, NLT version)
James was speaking of God's character, and using it to encourage his audience to live holy and right before him... but this statement about God's character reveals something important to us: Every good thing comes from above - from God. What is good? Well, that can be an interesting question in and of itself - yet there are at least a few things we know are good. God is good, and everything God created is good. He said it in Genesis 1!
Sitting there enjoying an amazing gift of God on display was incredible. It was nothing less than his creation on display - God created the lips and the lungs and the brain to work together in rhythm and unity to create unique and spontaneous joyful sounds of musical ingenuity. Nelson Rangell wasnt performing to God directly, I think he was playing about love, and life and passion. I dont know if he knows God. However, the gift of God was on full display nonetheless, and for that reason, we could sit and enjoy God's handywork in all its reflective glory.This brought us to the fact that every good gift of man is from God. Watching a star athlete compete with vigor in his sport, or a visual artist creating something beautiful and unique from paint and an empty canvas, or a skillful surgeon cutting and repairing the human body. The same with a mathematician at his computations, an Olympic diver coming off the board in perfect form, or a skilled botanist caring for his plants. All are good things, because God created them and the ability to do them in us, the human race -- the amazing creshendo of all his creation.
In this way, what some call secular can be deeply Christian. The line between "secular" and "Christian" has been skewed for centuries by religious men. Yet God created every good thing, be it directly aimed to Him or indirectly. Thank God we have the freedom to enjoy it, and celebrate it!
Our responsibility then, as sincere followers of Jesus the Christ, is to tell others the good news of what he has done for us in making us right with God... so that in turn others can practice their gifting within the context of a restored relationship with God for themselves. But let us no longer seperate ourselves from the everyday activities of the world (which in most cases are laced with the gifts of Gods creation), but let us enter in to the worlds systems with the purpose of redeeming them (and the lost within them) back to God for His glory.
Thank God for every good thing in this life - for they all come from Him.
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