I feel that a lot of our troubles in this world today are that we are worshipping the wrong god. Let me first of all give you some examples of worship.
treat somebody or something as deity: to treat somebody or something as divine and show respect by engaging in acts of prayer and devotion
love somebody deeply: to love, admire, or respect somebody or something greatly and perhaps excessively or unquestioningly
or
Worship – “to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power” Mirriam Webster Dictionary
Since God cannot lie what do you think this next verse means?
Exodus 34:14 “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”
Matthew Henry’s commentary of this verse says “Jealously is called the rage of a man, Pr 6:34; but in God it is holy and just displeasure. Those cannot worship God aright, who do not worship him only.”
But as you have seen from the above definitions and verse we seldom worship God. We worship our kids, job, spouse (sometimes), hobby, pleasure and on and on. Then we go to church to try to get right with God in a sense of what we view as worship. Most of us go to church to be fed, to be entertained (What can I get out of this today). Instead of going to church just to worship God. To sing of His glory on how He has protected and saved you. To call upon His name and listen to all the wondrous things He has done. Then to give God the glory and honor that He deserves.
Here are a few statements we seldom think about until it is too late. God loves us enough especially the Believer to keep us from straying from Him.
1. If you worship your children more than God He may take them home to heaven – They are Gods anyway not our children. A lot of times we treat what God has loaned to us as ours.
2. If you worship a job above God He may take that from you but after you have come back to Him you may have something better.
3. If your sport or hobby is more important than God then you may suffer an illness or injury that turns your focus back upon God.
4. Maybe you are in a big mess today because you are worshipping the wrong thing or things.
Listen to his very carefully. God created YOU and has every right to do to you what He wishes. Now what His desire is for you is to love him more than ANYTHING and to trust that He has a perfect plan for your life. Since God controls everything in the heavens and the earth why do we stray towards the created things instead of the creator?
When Moses was on Mt Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights the Israelites started to doubt if Moses was ever going to come back. God has made in each of us a desire to worship. If we do not worship God, WE WILL find something else to worship. So the Israelites made a golden calf to worship. When we don’t see God working in our lives and we become impatient we may worship whatever we are good at. Remember whatever we are good at God gave us those talents also. So instead of “waiting upon the Lord” we rush off to worship what is immediately seen instead of waiting for something better.
Now let’s says God takes your child. That doesn’t always mean that you are not worshiping Him. Remember God does all things for a perfect purpose. If something bad happens or what you think is bad from your perspective hold onto this promise.
John 9:1-3 “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
As you can see ALL things happen in this life so that the work of God may be revealed in your life and the life of others. Instead of asking “Why” when something bad happens know that what you are going through will eventually glorify God. Stop trying to glorify yourself as that is the opposite of Godly worship.
Please try to get back to basics today. God created you and God owns you. If that statement makes you bristle then you may have some pride that you need to repent of. God desires for us to know our own heart. It is only when we humble ourselves through prayer and come through trials that we can finally see who we really are. And that is a broken people who need a Savior. The sooner we realize that we are not the king, the sooner our worship will be pure and right. The sooner our worries of self will turn to faith and trust in God.
Have a great day and don’t fret but worship the King. He knows!!
Brad
