Joy and thanksgiving expressed in prayer and praise according to the Word of God are the heart of the Church’s worship.
– John Calvin.
It has been eighteen weeks now since the last time I was in our local Church attending service and worshipping with our church family. This timeline is longer than waiting for your second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, wherein if you get infected you have a 99.99975% chance of recovery and 0.00025% chance of dying. Yet, the most frightening condition, living in sin, is taken for granted.
Bible Reading
Today’s devotional reading is from the Book of Deuteronomy 12:8-9. Please, read our recent devotional from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (Rom. 5:2): Through Jesus, Our Access To God Is Not Denied
Worshipping According To Comfort
Verse eight shows Israelites’ lack of discipline while they were in the wilderness. They did not strictly adhere to the commands of temple worship as instructed by God through Moses. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of following the statutes for worshipping, offering sacrifices and feasts in preparation before entering the Promised Land.
Verse nine tells a significant point that is the Israelites have not yet acquired their inheritance. God wanted them to be different from those pagan tribes that they will conquer. Moreover, the ceremonial laws are not only for worship purposes but also to ensure that the Israelites will not do acts that are an abomination to God. The Israelites are the chosen people of God. And the salt and light for other nations in the Old Testament.
Worship According To God
The resurrection of Jesus Christ irradicated the usage of temples. Furthermore, the human bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit resides only in us when we have repented and believe in Jesus Christ. So, when someone says to you that you have the Holy Spirit and does not tell you to repent and have faith in Christ and worship Him alone, they are not really concern about your eternal life.
With that said, even when we do no longer have temples for worship, we are still called to come together physically in a house of prayer, a local church. Let us not be comfortable in our current situation. May we all pray to our Father to guide our Health Officers to see that their restrictions oppose the commandments of the Lord God. Moreover, let us pray for the leaders, elders and pastors of our church that the Holy Spirit will guide their decisions on the current restrictions.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Reflection
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV.
- What are your thoughts about the virtual church?
- How do you cope during this time when churches are closed?
- Is your worship according to the Bible or your own preference?
- Are you worshipping the Father, through Jesus Christ alone? Accept Jesus Now.
Related Posts
- Lord, Your Word is My Guide
- Family Worship Guarantees Love And Bonding
- The Temple of God
- Is The Work Of The Holy Spirit Evident In Your Life?
- Thankful for the Beatings and Imprisonments
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we adore your holy name. Grant us, Lord, the freedom to congregate physically and worship you with our brothers and sisters in Christ. May the Holy Spirit enlighten the health officials who are creating the restrictions; reveal Yourself to them, Lord. And may they surrender their lives obeying your word. We also pray for our pastors, elders and leaders who are in difficult situations. Let their decision be in accordance with your will Father. Bless us, Holy Spirit, with steadfast faith in Christ Jesus, no matter where we are in our journey and in what circumstances we are in.
We ask all of these in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
