DAY 11: "God of this City" by Kevin Wood

DAY ELEVEN: "God of this City" by Kevin Wood
I love music even though sometimes I am left to observing and not participating. I am what some people might call "musically challenged". That's a nice way of saying, "Music ain't my thing". While I can't strum in rhythm or drum on beat or even hum in tune, I still love to hear a good song. I especially love hearing a good song when it comes at just the right time. The right song at the right time can make the experience all the better. I had one of those "right song right time" moments this morning in worship.

Kevin Williams introduced a new song to us called "God of this City". While it was new to Trace Crossing, I have grown to love this song over the past several months. It is one of the ten most played songs on my iPod right there with Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" and Jon McLaughlin's "Indiana". My best estimate as to how many times I have listened to "God of this City" is somewhere in the 100+ range. But when we sang it this morning, it felt like I was hearing it for the first time. The song had a certain freshness to it - a very palpable vitality to it - when it was being sung by 100+ voices in a worship room. It sounded good... very good.

The reason the song resonated with me this morning was fairly simple: the song echoes the message of Malachi, the book we are studying this fall. Malachi lived in the midst of a troubled people. Israel was dazed and confused during Malachi's time. They had lost heart in themselves and they had lost hope in God. They felt forgotten and forsaken, so they gave themselves to living in a way that God had forbidden. And in the midst of this culture of chaos sat a piercing voiced prophet named Malachi. He wanted to stir God's people to passionate obedience. He simply wanted to remind them who they were and what their calling was in this world.

Malachi did this by reminding Israel of their past. They were the people of Abraham - pioneers willing to leave all that was comfortable for a far off land where God was doing something new. They were the people of Moses - leaders capable of facing the greatest power on earth with the humble moxy to not back down. They were the people of Joshua - dreamers who conquered massive cities with nothing but a praise band. They were the people of Gideon - warriors who needed no weapons as long as God was calling the shots. They were the people of David - giant-slaying shepherd boys who turned the world's mocking laughter into victory after victory after victory. There was no shortage of heroes in Israel's past, men and women who had demonstrated to God himself their faith and fortitude. And yet, as great as Israel's past was, Malachi had one closing thought for the people of God:

Greater things have yet to come, Greater things are still to be done in this city.

As we sang that line together this morning, I could almost hear Malachi singing along. I let my imagination wander a little and pondered the thought of Malachi singing this very song to the people of his day, urging them to see and seize the opportunity of the moment. Malachi is standing on his feet, fist pumping in the air triumphantly, singing the song with every ounce of energy he can muster. Tears are in his eyes. Sweat is on his forehead. Passion is in his voice. Yet you see and hear and feel a desperate hunger in this man's worship. He is not satisfied. He wants more. Certainly God had done great things for Israel. But He still had one great thing He wanted to do through Israel - send His Son on a mission of redemption and restoration. And this prophet wants in on that day of celebration. He isn't satisfied with Moses and friends. He wants Messiah. He wants Jesus.

Fast forward some 2,400 years from Malachi to Modernity. The people in Tupelo are no different from the people in Malachi's day. Many of us are indifferent to God's vision for the world, yet we still drag into worship on Sunday morning "because it is just what we do in the South". Many of us will put an offering in the plate, but "don't ask me to go around the world and spread your good news." We like living in the vicinity of complacency. We enjoy the zip code of comfort. We have lost sight of who we are.

Are we really the people of Abraham... Pioneers who say "yes" when God says "Go"?

Are we really the people of Moses... Leaders who speak truth to power with humility and integrity that crumbles the enemy?

Are we really the people of Joshua... Dreamers who trust that God knows where he is leading and don't get caught up in all the details?

Are we really the people of Gideon... Warriors whose worship is a greater weapon than their wealth or influence?

Are we really the people of David... Giant-slaying Shepherd boys whose purity and passion makes a skeptical world take notice?

And here is the hardest question of all...

Are we really the people of Christ... a sinner-loving, water-walking, disciple-making, towel-toting, cross-bearing, tomb-busting, Father-trusting follower of God?

If we are that people - a hungry and desperate people like Malachi - then strike up the band and let's sing it again and again and again.

Greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city.

But if we are NOT that people - if we are complacent and comfortable - then I just assume we never sing that song again. I will just listen to it on my iPod for the 101st time and wonder "what if?"

My gut, though, tells me that we are that people. That we believe God for the biggest. That we believe God for the boldest. That we stand in a long line of heroes who will one day sing that song with us.

Hear me out friends - God has done some great things in this city. Tupelo has much to be proud of from Elvis to TVA to AFR. But nothing in her past compares with what might be lurking right around the corner for a people desperate for God.

Greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city.

Do you believe that? I do.

Strike up the band Kevin... let's sing it again.

My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
God, forgive us for our apathy. Rip it from our hearts. Break us down if you must, tearing away our ego and pride. Shred every ounce of selfish motive and shrink us down to size. Help us see how insignificant we truly are in light of your greatness and glory. And once you have brought us to that place of utter brokenness, begin that restoration reconstruction work. Break us down in order to build us up. Make us a holy people whose hearts are bent on knowing You, loving You, serving You, enjoying You, sharing You. Carve within this faith family a desperate hunger for Your Presence. Do it anyway You choose. Amen.