Self Worship
We live in a generation in which people do what they "feel" like doing. Seldom do we see people who do the right thing no matter how they feel or how it may effect them at the moment. It is a real shame, too. That is why there is so little righteousness today. We are saved by grace, and we receive Christ's righteousness imputed to us. However, to remain righteous before God and others we must make the effort to live by trusting God and doing exactly what He wants us to do, no matter how we feel.
When we fail to obey God and to honor Him as supreme, because we want to do what we "feel" like doing, we are engaging in self worship. We are saying to God and everyone around us that we are worth more than God. We are affirming that our ways are better than His ways. In effect, we make ourselves god. That is a terrible choice, because that is idolatry, pure and simple. Then, if we go to a worship service, because we "feel" like it, and we sing the songs we "feel" like singing, we are still worshiping self, even if we are singing about Jesus. We are not showing His worth, but our own. Real worship of God is sacrificing all to do His will and to show Him that whatever He says is right. Real worship doesn't focus on the song, but on the Savior, and it seeks to magnify Him with whatever means are available.
There is no truer statement than this one: "It is not about me. It is about Him" We must do whatever we can do to deny ourselves and do His will. We must take up the cross He has for us and die to self. Then, we can follow Him and worship Him without the "self" getting in the way or being elevated above Him. We should have that goal 24 hours a day, for He is worthy, and we are not.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 32-34 and Joshua 1.
When we fail to obey God and to honor Him as supreme, because we want to do what we "feel" like doing, we are engaging in self worship. We are saying to God and everyone around us that we are worth more than God. We are affirming that our ways are better than His ways. In effect, we make ourselves god. That is a terrible choice, because that is idolatry, pure and simple. Then, if we go to a worship service, because we "feel" like it, and we sing the songs we "feel" like singing, we are still worshiping self, even if we are singing about Jesus. We are not showing His worth, but our own. Real worship of God is sacrificing all to do His will and to show Him that whatever He says is right. Real worship doesn't focus on the song, but on the Savior, and it seeks to magnify Him with whatever means are available.
There is no truer statement than this one: "It is not about me. It is about Him" We must do whatever we can do to deny ourselves and do His will. We must take up the cross He has for us and die to self. Then, we can follow Him and worship Him without the "self" getting in the way or being elevated above Him. We should have that goal 24 hours a day, for He is worthy, and we are not.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 32-34 and Joshua 1.