Ten Commandment NO, NO.............

Hello my Friends!

In 586 B.C. and unimaginable thing happened: The Babylonians destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. This building represented God’s presence with his people, The Israelites, and ensured they would always have a way to worship God. Interestingly, it was God who used a pagan nation to punish the Israelites for their idolatry. Big Ten Commandment NO, NO. No other god’s is numero uno. I don’t know about you but I personally tend to list things from most important to least important. The destruction of the temple was a beginning, not an end although I am certain the Israelites did not see it that way. Eventually the Israelites rebuilt the temple, but it was not as awesome as the one Solomon built. Be that as it may, it continued to serve as the center of Judaism’s life and worship.

During the time of Jesus, the temple remained of vital importance to the Jewish people.  This is the place where their sins were acknowledged and dealt with and where God revealed His presence to His people in a unique way. Imagine how shocked it must have been for them when Jesus declared, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Jesus was obviously very creative but unfortunately the Jewish people did not realize the temple Jesus spoke of was Himself.

Although it did not seem like good news then, this would change everything, and we all know how unsettling change can be. For the Jewish people, all that they had come to know about connecting with God, passed down from generation to generation, would now be irrelevant. No longer a need to go to the temple, no animal sacrifices or Levitical priests. In one single conversation, the place of worship was relocated.  God wanted more from His people then just time at the temple. God wanted worshippers who would worship Him in “spirit and truth” by means of Jesus, who is not confined to a specific place and time. We are all aware of those “come to Jesus” moments we have when we take time out of our busy lives to designate time to go to church and turn our focus to God. It feels so good and we wish that we could always feel that way, and because of Jesus we can, if we would only turn our focus to Him throughout the day, every day.

Idolatry is still alive and well in our lives, it is just disguised in a way that seems less obvious than praying to another god or some idol. Whenever we love and serve anything in the place of God, we are engaging in idolatry. That can be our husbands, children, favorite past time, TV, books , anything that we pursue, serve or are emotionally drawn to more than to God. What takes up most of your time? No I am not saying any of these things are bad, but just as we connect with God through the filter of Jesus, we too must filter all that we do through Him, as Christians. This may of course require some changes in our choices. By filtering our choices through Jesus, we make Him our focus, and it may not be a catchy tune, or resounding word, or a prayer than moves mountains, but it is worship.

The point I want to make is that Jesus, our connection to the Father, is not confined to the four walls of our churches, He is in us, all around us, always present, no sick days, vacations, holiday leave, etc., He is where and whenever we are regardless if we choose to acknowledge him.

I use to joke about caring around a little Jesus. Why? So that I would never be tempted to be so involved with living this temporary life,  that the life He gave seemed insignificant. I owe all that I am and every hope to be to Jesus, and He deserves to be acknowledged in every moment of my life, good, bad and ugly.  That is worship.

Arise worshippers, God wants to spend more time with you!