Becky’s Tips: Worship
Worship
How we can profit, and God can be glorified as we pause and worship throughout the day? Here are two of my recent pauses:
1: From Luke 2:14: “After the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds announcing Jesus’ birth, a great company of heavenly host appeared, praising God: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’”
2: From Revelation 4:8: “The four living creatures, day and night never stop saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”
Ponder these verses. Accept God’s goodness to you through His Word.
History in Acts
Do you have portions of Scripture that seem more valuable to you than other parts? Unfortunately, I must admit, I do. I saw the book of Acts as being more for my need of comfort, and less for my need for instruction.
Woe is me!!! You already know that all of God’s Word was God breathed for a good purpose for my needs! So, consider reading the book of Acts as God’s message to show you the history of the beginning of spreading the gospel and developing churches. Who would need to study that? Anyone who concerns himself with spreading the gospel and being a part of a church.
We open to Acts and we find Peter and then Paul showing how they spread and protected the truth. We may not travel primarily by boat and foot, but we will see how they faced problems and found peace.
Let’s make sure that every student knows his roots. The book of Acts is a good history lesson breathed by God Himself!
Connecting Love and Authority
In your home I trust you are training “how” to question authority without dishonoring the one in authority. Also, in your home, I picture heathy debate. Let me share some ideas to consider:
Heb 12:6-7; 1 Jn 5:3 God is love. His love leads to His care and protection of us. God has chosen to appoint rulers for the purpose of fulfilling in part, that love. When I argue with authority God has appointed for me, I am rejecting that love.
Rom 3:23; Ps 51:5 Appointed rulers also can do wrong. God has provided for that in His instructions. God’s rule over us however never needs to be questioned. He makes no mistakes.
This means that rules that are made in the home may be altered. Developing a God – honoring way to do that (or to not alter them) is important.
-Each member of the family would be “heard”!
-Parents review their appointment by God and their desire to obey Him.
-Scriptures are reviewed and applied.
-Everyone is drawn into God’s protection by listening and obeying.
-Changes in rules are explained in light of Scripture and God’s ultimate authority.
-Debate can be allowed in a healthy home environment:
>Always clarify what the argument is.
>Confirm a basis for the argument.
>Consider your points for argument from the standpoint of Biblical foundation.
>Constantly review your benchmark for truth.
Authority is a great topic. Almost all learning rests on understanding authority. All sin is defying authority. Therefore, time spent in the home in the study of it is well spent.
Living in this Culture
Wherever we assemble we are exposed to some degree of self-will. Consider this.
A group of redeemed sinning sinners comes together. Each one (perhaps unintentionally) smears her sin and receives smears from others. So our focus must be daily (each minute) on worship. “Lord forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me.”
Even in the most guarded situations, a child repeats something she heard: “I think his girlfriend is a boy.” Then the child giggles and a tiny fire of acceptable sin has been lighted. “Lord deliver us from evil.”
Why is this “giggle” both a dangerous sign as well as a cry to the mom for help? Because it reveals that the Biblical understanding of why God created us and how He fulfills His purpose in us is misunderstood. But as in all problems we face, Christ is our redeeming hope.
Continue to see increasing value in reading and discussing God’s Word. And if time allows read those old, old books I constantly reference.
Malachi/Matthew
Malachi writes warning, addressing and admonishing 1) First the priests and 2) then the sinful people.
Next the faithful few are addressed:
>Malachi 3:16-18 “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.
They will be mine, says the Lord Almighty, in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
Then we have no recorded words for about 400 years. Our next book of the Bible is Matthew who gives us the genealogy of Jesus Christ, and introducing Jesus as King he quotes from Micah 5:2.
>“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the Shepherd of my people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6)
Comforting words. Our Savior is born and will live and die and resurrect in obedience to His Father.
All of our teaching will be founded on these two things:
Be warned: if we add to or subtract from who Jesus is.
Be encouraged: God hears us. God reveals His very specific plan. Jesus is central and foundation to all truth we teach and all training we offer.