Worship the Lamb

Read Matthew 21.

Meditate on the passage answering the following questions:
1. What does this tell me about God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
2. What lesson can I learn from this passage?
3. What particular sin does it warn me against?
4. What verse, phrase or single word can I take with me for the day?

Pray

As I read today's passage, I wondered how many of us have truly worshiped God as we ought. Would we stand and shout and sing praises to our Lord, or would we be more worried about a building and the profit i can bring in? We see clearly that God is not to be mocked or confused with the world's system.

The contrast in this passage is very apparent. One group, possibly some of the same people, sing praises and welcome Christ (the Messiah) to the city like a King. The other group is shouting (not to the King) and drawing attention to themselves and their goods. What a great comparison of church worship today. I have sat in churches that clearly pointed to the cross and Jesus (the King of Kings), and I have sat in churches where the clear emphasis was the band.

I think the thing we learn about Jesus (the Son of God) is that He is a jealous God. He does not share His glory or praise or house of worship with anyone. The lesson and sin we must be wary of is once again too much focus on self. I think Jesus makes it quite clear that we come to worship not sell our wares. We come to worship Him not a worship team (or pastor). We come to pray not gossip. We come to build up the body of Christ not destroy it. Why do you come to church?

The verse that stands out to me today is verse 13, "And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a robber's den." Again, my question for myself today is, "What am I doing when I come to the house of God?"

Glorious God, It is the flame of my life to worship thee, the crown and glory of my soul to adore thee, heavenly pleasure to approach thee. Give me power by thy Spirit to help me worship now, that I may forget the world, be brought into fullness of life, be refreshed, comforted, blessed. Give me knowledge of thy goodness that I might not be over-awed by thy greatness; give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, that I might not be terrified, but be drawn near with filial love, with holy boldness. He is my mediator, brother, interpreter, branch, daysman, Lamb; Him I glorify, in Him I am set on high.

Crowns to give I have none, but what thou hast given I return, content to feel that everything is mine when it is thine, and the more fully mine when I have yielded it to thee. Let me live wholly to my Saviour, free from distractions, from carking care, from hindrances to the pursuit of the narrow way. I am pardoned through the blood of Jesus, give me a new sense of it, continue to pardon me by it, may I come every day to the fountain, and every day be washed anew, that I may worship thee always in spirit and truth.

In Jesus name, Amen.
(The Valley of Vision "Worship", pg 196)