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Monday, March 18, 2024

We Worship a Creator God

March 18

(Psalms 33:6-9 NIV) “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. {7} He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. {8} Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. {9} For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”

(Colossians 1:15-17 NIV) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. {17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

The marvelously complex and vast universe we live in was created by God. The physical laws of the universe that bring order to our existence were created by our Lord. God is the creator of all things, and that includes you and me. You were God’s idea. He chose to create you. That’s why we worship Him. The evolution versus creation debate really boils down to who will be worshipped. If everything in the cosmos just happened, if we did simply evolve from some single-celled creature into all that we see now, then why worship God? Maybe we should worship nature. Some religions do exactly that. Or perhaps we should even worship man himself, as the end result of evolutionary progress. Some people today also do that. But, if God created and sustains the universe, this world, and us -- He is worthy of our worship. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sunday, March 17, 2024

We Worship a Loving God

March 17

(Psalms 33:4-5,18-19,22 NIV) “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. {5} The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love… {18} But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, {19} to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine… {22} May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

(John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Psalm 33 reads like a checklist of reasons to worship God. First and foremost, God is faithful and loving. He loved us before we ever loved Him. He loves us even after we have loved Him and turned away. He is faithful, when we are not. It is in God’s unfailing love that Christians put their hope. His love for us endures our folly and was proven beyond a doubt when He came here to die on a cross for our sins. God did not have to do that. Our Creator could have wiped the slate clean and started over -- but He didn’t. Instead He made the greatest sacrifice of love man has ever known. Jesus provides for us. He cares for us. He loves us. Any God who would do this deserves our worship. “God so loved the world” - and whoever believes in Him will worship Him for eternity. But first, we start by worshipping Him here. Worship the Lord today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Worship in Song

March 16

(Psalms 33:1-3 NIV)  "Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. {2} Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. {3} Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

(1 Peter 2:9) "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light".

The word "worship" comes from two Old English words: weorth, which means "worth"; and scipe or ship, which means “shape” or "quality." You find the Old English word “ship” in modern words like friendship and sportsmanship – the quality of being a friend, or the quality of being a good sport. “Worth-ship”, then, is the quality of having worth or being worthy. When we worship God, we attribute worth to God. We declare that the Lord is of the highest worth to us. One of the ways we can do that is through music. Songs help us free our souls to offer God joyful praise. The music itself is not the worship; it is but a vehicle or a tool to help us get outside ourselves and give expression to what’s in our heart. And to truly worship, our songs must be truthful. We cannot worship God when we lie to Him when we sing. Sing joyfully. Sing truthfully. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day


Friday, March 15, 2024

Saved AND Discipled

March 15

(Psalms 32:8-11 NIV) “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. {9} Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. {10} Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. {11} Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”

(Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Jesus Christ came to save sinners, but He wants more than just salvation for us. He also came to make disciples. The plan is that we be saved and discipled. Faith is an extended journey, not a trip to the corner Quick Shop. Many today have “given their life to Christ”, but their lives don’t look like it. They have failed to become disciples. Psalm 32 lists several steps to discipleship. The first is prayer; prayer that listens as much as it talks. We must also receive instruction. The twelve called Him Teacher. So should we. Jesus wants to counsel us. He’s into counsel more than control. After all, we are not horses or mules. Part of the reason so many Christians crash and burn is their refusal to accept good counsel. That has to change. We must also learn to worship the Lord. Express your love. Give Him glory. Prayer, instruction, counsel, and worship: four steps to discipleship. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day