Thought for the day
A little boy asked his father what was the highest number he had ever
counted. Replying that he didn't know, the father asked his son his
highest number. It was 973.
"Why did you stop there?" wondered the father.
"Because church was over."
I suspect that you have probably sat through worship services where your
mind was focused on something just as trivial rather than on God. It's
easy to let the mind wander. "I can't wait to see the ball game this
afternoon." "I wonder what we're having for lunch." "I've never noticed
before that the carpet down there is starting to unravel a bit." Is it any
wonder that we so often leave the worship assembly with the feeling that it
wasn't very meaningful?
Worship should be a time when we are confronted with the majesty and glory
of God. As we reflect on God's power, we realize how much we need Him in
our times of weakness. As we reflect on God's wisdom, we realize how much
we need Him in our times of indecision. As we reflect on God's holiness,
we are made aware of our own sinfulness and the need for forgiveness.
As we reflect on God's love, we realize the effort God has gone to make
that forgiveness available.
It's not a ritual we go through every week. It is an opportunity to
express our praise to the One who means more to us than all the earth.
As we truly worship and praise God from the heart, we become more aware of
how much we want to live close to Him. We leave with the challenge to "be
holy as He is holy."
"For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above
all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made
the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in
His sanctuary. Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the
LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an
offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of
holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth." (Psalm 96:4-9)
Verses
Ephesians 6:13
You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground.
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Mark 11:23
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.
James 5:17-18
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Prayer
Father, we know that living in the light of eternity gives us an unending hope that surpasses our journey here below. It takes our spirit to heights that soar beyond the brutish world we live in and motivates us to lay up our treasures in heaven where greed and corruption do not exist. It gives us a deep, settled peace that our loved one who walked with You on earth now worships You in heaven. We anxiously await that wondrous day when we will be joined with our loved ones in giving praise, glory and honor to our everlasting King of Kings around the heavenly throne. Our hearts are encouraged and our spirit is strengthened as we meditate on these wonderful future events. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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