Worshiping the Lord
Open Your Bible
Deuteronomy 12:1-32, Deuteronomy 13:1-18, Deuteronomy 14:1-21, 1 Corinthians 10:14-31
BY Bailey Gillespie
My mom and I are good friends. Like all good friends, we can get ourselves into passionate, playful arguments about very important topics—like vanilla extract. Yes, you heard that right: vanilla extract. I’m a purist. She was too, until taking the advice of a TV chef.
“It all tastes the same in the end,” she says. And that, my friends, is where our playful little argument begins. Now, I understand the benefit of using imitation vanilla on a budget. Dropping thirty dollars on a little bottle of flavoring may not be the best way to steward our finances when there are more pressing needs. It’s an extravagance. But I do think it’s important to recognize there is a difference. Greater value is given to vanilla in its purest form than to a watered-down imitation of it because it’s unlike anything else of its kind.
Our God, the Lord of lords, is also unlike anything of His kind. Anything, anywhere, in all creation. He is the one true God. And in Scripture, we see God place deep value on worshiping Him, untainted by idolatry. This is because He is holy and alone worthy of receiving not just our worship, but that which is genuine and from the heart. More importantly, when we find ourselves securing our affections to anything outside of God, it’s only a counterfeit imitation of true worship. It’s an insult to our Father who is over all things and conceived us in love.
In today’s reading, Moses addresses worship practices that are, in short, a hot mess. The people inhabiting the land that God had promised the Israelites are worshipping every kind of idol, constructing Asherah poles, pillars, and altars built for human-made statues (Deuteronomy 12:3-4,8).
Moses urges God’s people to recognize the difference between the current practices in the promised land and the worship of the one true God, between bowing before a statue crafted from human hands instead of the God who spoke metal, wood, and light into being. They are called to mark a difference between what is pagan and what is pure, not just in who or what they worship, but in how. Avoiding idolatry wasn’t only about avoiding bowing down to statues—it was about adopting a way of living that aligned with being set apart. “For you are a holy people,” Moses says, “belonging to the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 14:21).
Fortunately, Mom and I agree that being a purist in baking is not anywhere near as important as it is in worship. You and I may not be called to the same instructions as the Israelites living under the old covenant, but we are called to worship with pure hearts all the same. Today, let’s sit in the presence of the God who alone is worthy of our heart’s deepest affection.
45 thoughts on "Worshiping the Lord"
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It’s hard to pick apart the things in our lives that we worship wrongfully. But it’s so needed to take a step back sometimes and think about what we’re holding in higher priority than our relationship and worship of our Lord.
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PS Jane K is this the one who was having an ultrasound last week?
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Jane K I am praying for Morgan!
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Praise report update! I originally asked for prayer for multiple issues in my eye(cataract, glaucoma, hole in the retina)I had surgery to have the cataract removed and decrease pressure in the eye, mid May. I was given additional eye drops at that time. I had additional follow up appointments, which included a scan of the eye. The hole is closing. The 2 sides are moving towards each other. Thank you ladies for your faithfulness to remember those who ask for prayer. My scripture that I clung to was
Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, Is there anything to hard for me. Jeremiah 32:27 -
If you feel led to pray for my 28 year old son Daniel, i would so very much appreciate it. He’s starting dating a girl named Vicky. She wrote a book called “two-souled”. Very well written, but there is a great deal of witchcraft in it. Daniel does not think it’s a big deal though refuses to read it; probably because it has homosexual characters in it. I don’t know why he is blind except that he plays videos and likes japanese comics. Both, i feel. Sometimes has witchcraft in it. It is possible he does not see because his eyes are clouded by his hobbies he feels are innocent. He loves the Lord and would do nothing he felt was unchristian. 1 corinthian 10:20 makes it very clear if its not from God it is participating with demons. We’re getting together for the 1st time with Vicky (& Daniel) this Saturday. Please pray: i will continue to live Vicky more and more
That i will learn how to bring this all to God.
Break any ties Daniel, Vicky, Darren (my husband) and I have with the spiritual forces of darkness.That Daniel and Vicky’s eyes would be opened wide to the deception as they come into the Truth, see God’s Love and give their heart, soul, mind, and strength to the True first rate spiritual Power; only God; Jesus Christ crucified and Risen. May they stand steadfast and assured of whom they worship; Jesus Christ alone, in all they do. In Jesus Christ’s name i pray with you. Amen.
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This morning, I had Happy tears when I prayed. I was just so grateful for the supernatural healing power of God. He is so amazing and good! I was so lost at one point with so much paranoia stress and anxiety.I put so much over Him too, technology included. I wasn’t even me anymore. But God changed that and I feel like I am reborn From now on, whenever I feel like putting other things before God, i will come to Him first, and ask Him to remove that feeling. Being obedient to God is the best thing we could all do
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Worshipping the One and Only God is what I want to do and will do. I will worship God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. At times it is hard to remember I shouldn’t make idols out of anything. All They want is my heart and soul to worship and believe in Them. I believe and have faith.
Finley, the little girl I take care of, came through her surgery with flying colors.
Sisters in Christ be blessed and rejoice in the name of the Lord.
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