On our way rejoicing...

Over the past few days there has been a recurring theme in the Biblical passages I have read and heard. Worship. When I think of worship many things come to mind. Mainly corporate worship. Where the church as a local body comes together to give glory and honor to Almighty God. However, I tend to not put the "worship label" on my personal times with Christ. Even though they are times of worship!

Anthony shared with the youth last night about worship. He used a text out of Matthew 6, where it says that where our treasure is there our heart is also. I totally understand that.

However, I decided this morning to look into biblical accounts of worship (since there should be many!). I ended up in Acts in a passage that I am very familiar with. Acts 8:26-39, Phillip and the Ethiopian eunich. I was startled as read this passage. "The eunich had gone to Jerusalem to worship". He had gone to the temple as was custom. He was doing his religious duty. As he rode back to Ethiopia from Jerusalem, he sat in a chariot reading his own copy of Isaiah's book. And told Phillip, "How can I (understand), unless someone instructs me?". Wow! What a picture. Here is a man who is religious. For every practical purpose, he goes to church, reads his Bible and still has no relationship with his creator. How can we "worship" God if we do not know him?How can we know him if we do not spend time in his word?

Isaiah, what a prophet, wrote in chapter 26 verse 13, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men". Is this how we "worship"? Really? The poor Ethiopian eunich only saw worship as a ritual. He had knowledge without understanding. That is until Phillip arrived. Phillip, doing the will of God, shared with this man. Even as religious as he was, the eunich saw his need and chose true worship. According to John 4:24, true worshippers must worship God in spirit and in truth. True worship puts us, like the eunich, on our way rejoicing!

What do you worship? Who will you serve? I echo the words of Joshua recorded in chapter 24 verse 15, "But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord".