Acts 23-24 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Acts 23:1-24:27.

“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:14-15).

Paul believed the Law and the Prophets. Because he believed, he had hope in the resurrection. Because he had hope in the resurrection, he worshiped. Why do I worship? Is it a checklist item? Is it to impress God? Is it because I think it is commanded? Or is it because I have faith and hope?

God is bringing a resurrection. This life is not just about this life, but about the next. God is preparing a way for us to enter to the next with Him. For that, we honor and praise and worship Him. Praise God for His plan.

Why do you worship God?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is Revelation 3:1-4:11.

“And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne…” (Revelation 4:9-10).

God is worthy. I’m not. He deserves glory. I don’t.

Whatever I carry and wear that I think represents my own worthiness and glory needs to be cast down in the presence of the almighty God. I must not come into God’s presence trying to impress Him with my supposed royalty. I must come into His presence supremely impressed and humbled by His.

Only when I get this perspective straight can I pray and worship as I need to, humbling myself before and surrendering myself to God, my only hope.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 5:1-6:17.

Yesterday, I saw that the Father was worthy of worship because of His creative power. Today, I see the Son. He is also worthy. The text says, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). The text goes on to say, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13). Then the elders fell down and worshiped. In context, they were worshiping both of those they claimed to be worthy of honor and glory. They worshiped Father and Son. The Father is worthy of worship because of His creative power. The Son is worthy of worship because of His life giving work on the cross.

Revelation 5:9-10 says, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Jesus didn’t die to save the Jewish nation. He was sacrificed so people from all tribes and nations could be saved through Him. I’m thankful. That includes me. 

Today, I need to honor and glorify Jesus because of the life He has given me. I need to acknowledge Him. I need to thank Him. He is worthy.

***Question: What do you do to honor Jesus every day?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 3:1-4:11.

The very last sentence of today’s reading caught my attention.

The 24 elders around the throne cast down their golden crowns and worship God saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

Why is God worthy of glory, honor, and power? Because He created all things. He did not evolve all things. He did not set the plan in motion and the world naturally produced all things. He created all things. 

I am becoming increasingly convinced that a new battle is waging between the world and Christ’s people. It is an old battle, but it seems in the past few years to have reached a new intensity. Sadly, some want to characterize it as a battle between science and faith. That just isn’t true. It is a battle between two systems of faith. One is a faith that the universe is governed by random chances. The other is a faith that the universe is governed by an all-powerfully intelligent being. 

Regrettably, some who believe in the all-powerfully intelligent being are wanting to please both sides. They want to be seen as people who believe in God, but also people who believe in evolution. Richard Dawkins and I agree on one thing. You can’t have it both ways. If God guided what is here, then it didn’t get here by natural selection. If natural selection is the mechanism by which all of life is here, then it wasn’t God. You just can’t have both.

Revelation 4:11 demonstrates the importance for the Christian believing in God’s creative power. It is that belief that promotes worship. It is that belief that promotes submission. To the degree that we lose faith in God’s creative power and work and increase faith in the randomness of the universe, we’ll diminish our worship of God. 

After all, if God didn’t create all of this by His own power, of what worship is He worthy?

God is the creator. Everything is here because of God. Be amazed at His handiwork and how it is perfectly suited for you and me to exist and continue existing. Don’t give honor to the random chance of the universe. Honor God, casting down your crown. Worship Him.

***Question: How do you honor God on a daily basis?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 3:1-4:11.

Okay, okay, for those who come to the blog everyday, you know this was actually yesterday’s reading. However, I spent the morning getting our Suburban fixed and for some reason couldn’t access the places network even though it said I was on it. Then when I was finally about to be able to go to my office and put up the posts, Ryan, my seven year old, wiped out on his bike and I had to get him to the ER for stitches. He’s good, just swollen. 

Anyway, I wanted to get all the Revelation posts up. I know I’m writing this a day late, but I have scheduled it to show the proper day for when it should have been posted just so it will be in order.

God is Worthy

Remember that we learned Revelation has a message that is to be kept (Revelation 1:3). The message in Revelation 4 is pretty clear. God is worthy of honor. Just as the elders, creatures, angels, and hosts of heaven honored, glorified, and worshipped God. I need to do the same. 

I shouldn’t wait until Sunday to meet with the congregation to worship and glorify God. I need to do this on my own repeatedly, continually, and consistently. I need to prostrate my spirit before God and declare His great worthiness, holiness, justice, mercy, love, etc. 

He was, is and is to come. He created all things. He runs the universe. He saved us through His Son Jesus. He is the great God who is worthy of praise and glory. I must give it to Him today.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?