It’s Sunday morning. It’s the Lord’s Day. What are your plans? Are you going to worship services today? If so, how do you feel about it? Do you feel like you “have to go to church?” or do you “get to go to church?” I believe that our attitude towards “going to church,” has a lot to do as to whether our worship will be acceptable unto God. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may worship God acceptably with reverence and Godly awe.” (Hebrews 12:28) Does Godly awe or fear make you want to worship Him today?
There are many examples of times when folks did not worship acceptably. We know that God was pleased with Abel’s blood offering, but He had “no regard” for Cain’s grain offering. Since “By faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice” (Hebrews 11:4), and we are told that “faith cometh by hearing and hearing from the Word of God,” (Romans 10:17) therefore, we know that God had told Cain and Abel what to offer. One obeyed and one didn’t. Abel’s worship was accepted. Cain’s offering was not.
Think about Nadab and Abihu – they were there in the temple, like they were supposed to be, but these two sons of Aaron, offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” (Leviticus 10:1-2) What made that fire “strange?” It came from an unauthorized place. They didn’t worship acceptably. The Lord was not pleased. They didn’t get a “second chance.”
In I Samuel 15, Saul was anxious to sacrifice, and Samuel, the prophet was running late. When Samuel got there, Saul said, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me.” (I Samuel 15:20) What he had really done was offer the sacrifices himself, even though he was not a Levite or a priest. He had taken the matter in his own hands and worshiped “his way.” Samuel rebuked him saying, “To obey is better than sacrifice. . .” (I Samuel 15:22) His worship was not acceptable unto God. His kingdom as taken away and given to another.
Friends, we must “examine ourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. . .” (II Corinthians 13:5) Are you prepared to worship the Lord in an acceptable manner today? Are you physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to join your church family in worship and praise? There are millions of people all over the world who do not have that option. Will you take advantage of this opportunity? For “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:2) I’m so thankful that I “get to go to worship” today. See you there! God Bless, Courtney
AMEN