David Putman

Someone reminded me last night that God adores me. God, the Savior of the world, the reason we celebrate this season, ADORES ME! Encourage each other and build each other up. It’s a gift WE can give… and it’s free!

“The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” Zephaniah 3:17

These words came from Tami my beautiful wife.  It reminds me of a lesson God taught me just over a year ago.

After resigning my paid church job to learn how to follow Jesus I was met with a surprising response.  Everywhere I went people were so excited.  It was weird.  It was like people were celebrating that I resigned my ministry position.  This is the opposite response I expected.  I thought people would say you idiot, you did what!  How are you going to pay your bills?  I thought you were already following him?  Instead I found that people everywhere was delighted!

I remember early on waking up, reading a few chapters in the Gospels, and praying Jesus show me your way.  Okay, now what do you do?  I didn’t have a job.  I was following.  I made my way toward Starbucks.  It made sense to me, go where people are.  When I got there I ran into an author friend who I had never seen in Starbucks before.  He was finishing up a writing project and seemed delighted to see me.  From a distance he smile and mouth the words, “I hear that you resigned your ministry position.”  Word was getting out.  He invited me to come and join him where he affirmed and celebrated what he called bold faith.

As I was leaving Starbucks that day it hit me.  God was trying to tell me something.  It was as if he was grabbing my chin with his hand looking deeply into my eyes and ever so gently saying, “David, I am so excited and proud of you for following me.”  God was adoring and delighting in my obedience.  How do I know?  He kept telling me through his people.

I learned an important lesson that day.  God worships the ground his people walk on.  He really does.  I was taught that when it came to worship that it was our responsibility to worship God in very specific ways and that was it.  I often thought this is weird.  Why would a loving God want us to run around worshiping him and him alone all the time?

However, now I realize that God’s very nature is worship.  Worship is about placing value on something.  God places value on us.  God worships us.  He loves us.  He believes in us.  He died for us!  Now, that’s worship.  When we are obedient he tells us! Next time you do something in love for him just pause and listen.  And yes I worship him!  He is worthy of all honor, praise, and glory.