Worshiping A Good God
Worshiping God is one of the most central and basic aspects of the Christian life. God’s people actively engage in worship of God all through Scripture. The Bible is filled with songs and poems dedicated to worshiping God.
While we often think of worship as singing songs of praise, worship can be much more than that. Actually, when we limit our worship of God to only singing, we miss out on a vital aspect of the Christian life.
Worship in Scripture is more than just singing. It is rightly thinking about and praising God for who He is and what He has done. Worship happens when we recognize God as God—when we’re in awe of His character and His provisions.
This means that we can worship God at any moment of our day. When we thank God for His kindness, that is worship. When we are in awe of His beauty, that is worship.
In Isaiah 25:1, the prophet Isaiah praises God in this way. Isaiah thanks God for being who He is, for being a very personal God to him. He also worships God for His faithfulness, which is an aspect of God’s character. Lastly, Isaiah praises God for all of the wonderful things He has done.
Isaiah may not have been singing a song at the time, but his words and actions tell us that he was worshiping God for who He is and what He has done. Isaiah was in awe of how great and wonderful God is.
Spend some time today thinking about God. Consider His character, that He is good, faithful, and loving. Think about the things He has blessed you with. Sit for a few minutes in awe of God and simply worship Him.
Day 20 of the reading of the gospel of Luke
Luke 20
“And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, and spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a ...
Believing Beyond Norms
Mary was a young girl immersed in the quiet rhythms of Nazareth when an angel announced that she would bear the Son of God (Luke 1:31). The typical response to hearing this might be fear, or shock, or awe. Instead, Mary responded with belief—a belief that what the angel was telling her was the truth. “May your word to me be fulfilled,” she said to the angel (Luke 1:38).
Witnessing this unwavering faith, Mary's older cousin Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, acknowledged Mary's faith and blessed her: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"
In these simple words, we hear a reminder to anchor our faith in the unwavering truth that God is faithful to fulfill His promises according to His Word. Elizabeth's statement, "Blessed is she who has believed," is more than an observation; it's a present affirmation. The emphasis isn’t just on the fulfillment of these promises, but on the blessing that comes from believing ...
“Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess: the third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith: the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife. These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years. And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel: Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet, and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister. And Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, Amaziah his son, Azariah his...