Monday, June 8, 2015
Jeremiah 10:14-16 Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image; for his molded image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are futile, a work of errors; in the time of their punishment they shall perish. The Portion of Jacob is not like them, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; the LORD of hosts is His name.
WORSHIP THE LORD OF HOSTS
What is worship? One dictionary definition reads: "reverence or devotion for a deity; religious homage or veneration." Another says: "extreme devotion or intense love or admiration of any kind. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, or a sacred object. It does include worship of an idol." As we look at various Bible words we see worship defined: "To bow down, to serve, to kiss the hand toward, or to venerate." Obviously the dictionary definitions can be used in speaking of worshiping the Lord, and the Bible definitions by themselves can be used as readily by the heathen with respect to their idols. From a Christian perspective we must look at the context of the word. Our text defines the word for us in a very restricted context as it defines for us to whom bowing down, veneration, intense love and kissing the hand is to be directed. "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile ... But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King." It is on this account that God commands, "You shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only you shall serve." How we understand that is emphasized to us by the Lord Himself who said through the prophet Isaiah, "I am the Lord; that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images."
Have you ever thought about how many different gods there are that people worship? Hindus alone worship over 300,000 different gods in their belief system. We know that the multiplicity of gods caused a problem for the Athenians who built an altar to their gods, and then built a "catch-all" altar to the unknown God. And the world today has not progressed beyond the superstition of the Athenians. What is particularly disturbing is the fact that even many Christians who profess to believe in God either are at a loss to declare Who He is, or are too concerned about hurting someone's feeling to tell the real truth. The real truth is that there is only ONE God. How many times have you heard it said that we all believe in the same God? We wish it were so. How many times have you heard it said that it makes no difference in what god you believe, as long as you believe in "god"? Again, not true.
Scripture declares to us that we are to worship the LORD God alone, for He is the only One who saves. As we are heavenly minded and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord we worship Him when we live in uncompromising and unquestioning obedience of faith. The Christ believer does not need a list of dos and don'ts. Filled with the Spirit of God he lives a life that says, "What pleases God, that pleases me. What offends God offends me." His life thus venerates and honors the Lord God. This is worship.
But what about our failures and sins? We also worship the Lord when we trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of sins, coming to him in penitent sorrow over sin and imploring Him for His grace and mercy in the confidence of forgiveness for Jesus' sake. This expression of trust, with thanksgiving, is also worship.
Whom we worship and how we worship is important. "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."
