Useful or Beautiful

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Have you ever used a vending machine? You put in a little money and press B-8 and it's almost like magic you get a snack. I remember as a kid I loved vending machines because you could get what ever you wanted.

I recently heard a very challenging and thought provoking question:

Do you find God more useful or do you find God more beautiful?

Too many times we treat God like a cosmic vending machine. We put in a little money, push a few spiritual buttons and expect God to deliver to us exactly what we wanted.

It's not wrong to ask God for things and in fact we learn from Scripture in James 1:17 that every good and perfect gift comes from above. So the challenge for us becomes are we pursuing God or are we pursing things or actions from God?

So this week let's be mindful about pursuing God above all else - even above the great things He can do for us. God is much great than a cosmic vending machine.

I love what Psalm 27:4 tells us:

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.