TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 25:10-26:37; 40:34-38
See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. - Exodus 25:40
TODAY IN THE WORD
Early morning on July 9, 1982, an intruder made his way past security and entered the bedroom of Queen Elizabeth II. While waiting for help, the queen remained calm and talked with the mentally disturbed man, Michael Fagan, who was bleeding from a cut hand. He had planned to kill himself, but he meant no harm to the queen. Instead, he merely wanted to be in her presence because he greatly admired her.

No matter why Fagan wanted to see the queen, clearly he didn't go about it the right way. Similarly, no matter how much people want to worship God, they need to go about it the right way.

This explains the elaborate plans for the tabernacle. It's not that God didn't want the people to approach Him. Just the opposite was true—the tabernacle was also called the Tent of Meeting (Ex. 40:34). But human sin creates a barrier to God that must be dealt with appropriately. In fact, one key principle explains the complex system for worship in the Old Testament: a holy God must be approached according to His holy ways.

The requirement to make the ark, the atonement cover (mercy seat), the table, and the lampstand with pure gold reflects God's holiness. Notice also that the holy ark could not be defiled by human touch, so it had to be lifted by poles inserted into rings on the ark's side.

Inside the tabernacle were two sections; the larger section contained the table, the lampstand, and the altar of incense (see Ex. 30). Only priests could enter this section. The smaller section was called the Most Holy Place, which contained the ark; only the high priest could enter it, once a year on the Day of Atonement.

When the tabernacle was finally finished, it was filled with the glory of the Lord. Just as He had promised, the Lord dwelled among His people.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Wherever the people went, the tabernacle was placed at the center of their encampment, a visible reminder that God was to be at the center of their lives. In John 1:14, the words “made his dwelling among us” actually translate a Greek word that means “to tabernacle”; in other words, in the incarnate Jesus Christ we have the true presence of God dwelling among us. Just as the tabernacle was always placed at the center of the camp, does your life have visible evidence that Christ is at the center?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 27:1-8; Leviticus 1:1-17
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. - Hebrews 9:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
In recent years, public concern about cruelty to animals has grown. Laws protect against the inhumane treatment of pets. Other efforts focus on ethical treatment of livestock, including poultry and dairy cows.

As stewards of God's creation, such efforts remind us that mistreatment of any part of God's creation is wrong. With this in mind, then, Leviticus 1 might seem confusing. Why would the same God who created animals command humans to sacrifice them? As we see in our verse for today, human sin requires some type of sacrifice for forgiveness. Killing an animal was no more pleasant for the ancient Israelites than it is today, but sin was no less serious then than it is now.

Before we look at the Levitical sacrifices, let's consider the altar where these offerings took place, which sat in the tabernacle's outer courtyard. Blood from the sacrificed animal was sprinkled on the four horns (v. 2), emphasizing that the very life of the animal had been poured out.

The first of six offerings outlined in Leviticus 1-7 is the whole burnt offering. This voluntary offering could be either a herd or flock animal, or a domesticated bird—either way, the sacrifice cost something to the one who offered it. The command for the worshiper to lay one hand on the animal (v. 4) shows that the worshiper had to make a personal identification with the offering. Notice also the repeated emphasis on the offering being acceptable or pleasing to the Lord (vv. 3, 4, 9, 13, 17). This is the true goal of the sacrifice. It wasn't that the Lord needed the sacrifice to feed Himself, as the surrounding nations believed about their gods! It was that the sacrifice provided for the removal of sin, so that the one who offered it might be reconciled with the Lord. The word atonement literally means “at-one-ment”; in other words, the worshiper could become at one again with the Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We must approach a holy God in a holy way. Sacrifice is at the heart of worship because it restores a proper relationship between the worshiper and God. Yet Hebrews 10:4 says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Thus Old Testament sacrifices anticipated the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. Only His sacrifice brings about complete forgiveness for sins. Without Christ, we couldn't approach our holy God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:1-44
Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! - Revelation 19:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Celebrate the Feasts, Martha Zimmerman writes: “Psychologists tell us that traditions build feelings of security into the child.” A child who participates in special events “senses that he belongs to an ongoing tradition that has deep significance.” For many, celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas provide traditions that instill a sense of belonging and meaning.

Leviticus 23 presents Israel's major feasts, divided into two groups: spring-time feasts (vv. 5-22) and autumn feasts (vv. 23-44). They were to be “sacred assemblies” during which all Israelites joined together before the Lord, for rest, thanksgiving, and worship (vv. 1-2).

Not surprisingly, the first on the list is the weekly Sabbath. Based on Genesis 2:2-3, the nation was commanded to cease from its labors and to enjoy rest in the Lord one day a week (see also Ex. 20:8-11). By abstaining from work, the Israelites affirmed their trust in the Lord's provision and refreshed themselves in Him. The first of the spring feasts combined Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which celebrated deliverance from Egypt. Next came the celebration of the first fruits, focusing on God's faithful provision of the harvest. Finally, the Feast of Weeks praised God for the current harvest and set aside a time of rest (v. 21). Since each of these feasts involved the harvest, they were followed by the command to leave some grain in the fields for the poor (v. 22). We see the connection between praising God and helping others.

The second set of feasts occurred during the fall. The first, Rosh Hashanah, was a day of rest commemorated with trumpets, reminding the nation that the Lord God who battled on their behalf was still present with them. The most solemn day of the year was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which was a time of self-denial and repentance. Finally, the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated the end of the harvest and reminded the nation of God's care when they wandered in the wilderness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Bible scholar Roy Gane summarizes Israel's feasts this way: “The festivals were major milestones in the yearly spiritual journey . . . as the people connected worship of God with His historical and/or agricultural goodness on their behalf.”

As Christmas nears, let's remember to connect worship of our Lord with all that He has done to redeem and provide for us. Consider setting aside a day of rest specifically to praise the Lord and to enjoy His goodness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 8:54-9:9
Will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. - 1 Kings 8:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Every year hundreds of people visit Lourdes in southern France, where tradition says that the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette in 1858. Pilgrims travel thousands of miles to this one place because they believe it to have healing power.

People often associate spiritual power with a particular place. That's exactly what the Israelites did. Long after the temple was built, many people forgot the temple's true significance and believed that they would be spared from Nebuchadnezzar's army simply because the temple was in Jerusalem. They forgot that it wasn't the place, but rather the Presence of the Lord, that mattered.

Solomon recognized this truth in his prayer of dedication (1 Kings 8:27). The Lord God who made the universe couldn't be confined to a dwelling on earth. Even so, the temple's beauty reflected the Lord's glory. The sacrifices showed what was required to approach a holy God. The annual feasts reminded the people of God's faithfulness and encouraged them to trust Him. As Jerusalem's center point, the temple was a visible reminder that the Lord was in the midst of His people.

Today's passage concludes the description of the temple's construction. The key event was when the ark was brought to temple and it filled with the Lord's glory (1 Kings 8:11). Solomon praised the Lord and led the people in a fellowship offering, followed by a celebration festival. What a celebration that must have been—just consider that number of animal sacrifices (v. 63)! The vast crowd included people from the far north (Lebo Hamath) to the far south (Wadi of Egypt).

Unfortunately, this happy picture wouldn't last long. We get a hint of things to come in God's response to Solomon (1 Kings 9). Notice in particular His emphasis on obedience. Sadly, the dedication of the temple was the high point of Solomon's spiritual life; after that he and eventually the entire nation fell into idolatry.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Solomon's temple was stunning. Yet its most awesome aspect was the Lord's glory. Later on, however, terrible abominations committed in the temple forced out the Lord's glory.

What can we learn from this? Worship involves a Person, not a place. We may appreciate a beautiful church building, but what counts is the Lord's presence in the hearts of His worshipers. Solomon was right: God doesn't dwell in a building—He dwells within human hearts.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 4:1-12
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
The story is told of a man who took a taxi one day. He commented on the way that the driver had skillfully avoided pedestrians who frequently crossed in front of the cab. The driver shrugged. “Yeah, but it's because if I hit them, I have to fill out a report!” he said.

Sometimes good actions stem from selfish motives, something we see as far back in human history as Cain. There's much discussion on why Cain's sacrifice wasn't acceptable. Some suggest that Abel's sacrifice was better because it involved blood. That may be, but it's clear from Leviticus that grain offerings were perfectly acceptable. So maybe the problem didn't concern what Cain offered, but rather how he offered it.

Cain's reaction to the Lord's displeasure confirms this. The Lord's response (vv. 6-7) suggests that He offered Cain a second chance. No doubt God had somehow instructed Adam and Eve how to worship Him, and they instructed their sons. In any event, verse 7 shows that Cain could have done the right thing. But rather than repent, Cain became angry—so angry that he fell prey to sin, which is pictured like a beast ready for action (v. 7).

Hebrews 11:4 indicates that Abel offered a better sacrifice because he was a righteous man. It seems that Abel offered as an act of pure worship, whereas Cain probably offered in order to earn the Lord's favor. It's possible that the content of both offerings was perfectly acceptable in and of themselves. What determined the Lord's blessing, however, was the heart of the one who made the offering.

The rest of Genesis 4 shows how unrighteous Cain was. Indeed, 1 John 3:12 says that Cain “belonged to the evil one.” Rather than turn away from his anger, Cain hardened himself in it. Abel's murder didn't occur in the “heat of the moment,” rather it was premeditated. Cain invited his brother out to the field so that he could kill him. It's staggering to see sin's progression in just one generation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like the cabbie who did the right thing with the wrong motive, Cain thought he could worship the Lord without changing his evil attitude. But the Lord wasn't fooled.

Neither is the Lord fooled when we try to worship Him with anger and resentment in our hearts. Instead, He sees past all our “offerings” to our hearts. It's only when the heart and the actions are in line that we have acceptable worship with the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 32:1-35; Deuteronomy 4:15-20
Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. - Exodus 34:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Years ago, popular songwriter Keith Green wrote a song “So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt,” parodying the wilderness generation's grumbling. One verse goes: “So you wanna go back to Egypt, where its warm and secure? . . . but now it's getting so hard. . . this Moses acts like a big-shot, who does he think he is? . . . Why'd he get so mad about that cow, that golden cow?”

Well, the main reason that Moses (and God) got so mad about that cow was the same reason that God didn't want His people to go back to Egypt. In Egypt, the Israelites were surrounded by dozens of idols. But worshiping any created thing completely opposes worshiping the Creator of everything.

This helps explain the anger over the golden calf. Context is also key. While Moses was receiving God's instruction, including plans for the tabernacle, the people were worshiping the golden calf, blatantly breaking the second commandment (see Dec. 6). Moses smashed the two tablets that he had received on the mountain (Ex. 32:19) to show that the people had broken the covenant. Nothing threatened the covenant more than false worship.

Moses was furious, but he also knew that a lot was at stake. First, the Egyptians would misunderstand if God killed the Israelites for their sin (v. 12). Second, there was God's promise to the patriarchs (v. 13). And finally, there was the perpetuation of God's own people (v. 32). So Moses prayed for the people. In response, the Lord spared them, but punished them with some type of illness.

In Deuteronomy 4, we find an interesting contrast between God and false gods. Notice that idols are described as images, but God could be heard (v. 15). In other words, idols are visible but mute. They are image but no substance. The Lord God cannot be seen but He speaks. He alone is real even if He's invisible, and He can hear and respond to our call to Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The idea that God is jealous (Ex. 34:14) may seem strange or somehow mistaken until we realize a few things.

Idols, whether physical objects or misdirected desires, control us by promising things they can never deliver. God, however, is all-powerful and speaks to us through His Word and by His Spirit. He alone can deliver the life that He promises. That's why He wants our total and pure worship—anything less is destructive.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 10:1-5; 2 Samuel 6:1-7
This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you. - Leviticus 9:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1981, movie audiences were introduced to the archaeologist adventurer Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford. In his constant search for antiquities, Jones finds himself in the middle of a Nazi plot to find and exploit the powerful ark of the covenant. Although this movie is pure Hollywood with little correspondence to reality, it gets one thing absolutely right. Those who try to manipulate God's holy power end up dying.

Leviticus 9 recorded the ordination ceremony for the Aaronic priesthood, including Aaron's nephews Nadab and Abihu. This majestic event culminated with the Lord's glory appearing to the people. But no sooner had this occurred then the two young priests took matters in their own hands. We don't exactly know what the unauthorized fire was (v. 1), but it clearly wasn't what God prescribed. Their actions not only affected themselves, but also those whom they were supposed to lead in worship. God's response was immediate—Nadab and Abihu were consumed by God's own fire. To those who approached Him (v. 3), God would show Himself holy, even if it meant killing them for their disobedience.

A similar event occurred in 2 Samuel 6. After decades away, the ark finally returned to Jerusalem, indicating God's approval of King David. But sadly, those entrusted with transporting the ark apparently forgot the rules and its holy power.

Recall that the ark was the most holy object in the tabernacle. Because it could not be touched, it had to hang from poles when it was moved. Uzzah was a Kohathite, the branch of the Levites entrusted with moving the ark. Surely he would have known that any one who touched the ark would die (Num. 4:15). But maybe he thought using a cart, especially a new one, was a better idea. When the ark nearly fell, Uzzah naturally tried to steady it. But in so doing, he touched it and God's anger burned against him. Uzzah died immediately.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What can we learn from these disturbing accounts? Was God being picky? No! Both accounts reveal God's holiness. Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized fire would have led people away from God; Uzzah's actions disregarded God's holy ways. Many people feel they can worship God any way they want. But God has good reasons for teaching how to worship Him. Worship shows us that God is holy and we're not. When we ignore His rules and principles, we lose sight of this.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Micah 6:1-8; Jeremiah 7:21-26
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart. - Psalm 51:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar describes her approach to spirituality this way: “I believe in an idea of God, although it's my own personal ideal. I find most religions interesting . . . Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist. I've taken bits from everything and customized it.”

Many believe that they can put together their own religion in some sort of smorgasbord approach, drawing bits and pieces from anywhere they choose. Many people think the only thing that matters is to be a good person and do the right thing. This is all based on what individuals think, not on what God requires.

Apparently Micah encountered this same problem. Micah 6 recorded God's lawsuit against His people. First, the Lord presented his charges (vv. 1-5), then the people responded, revealing their ignorance in the process (vv. 6-7). God's charges probably surprised many. No doubt they, like people today, were sure that all their religious activity pleased God. But they just didn't get it. God's questions (vv. 3-5) showed His great mercy. It wasn't that He had burdened them with meaningless rituals. Quite the contrary, He had faithfully led them from Egypt and protected them from Balak's evil intentions. But still they thought that just going through the motions would keep God happy.

Notice their exaggerated response (vv. 6-7)! If one ram is good, then thousands would surely make God very happy! The absurdity of their argument is found in the idea of sacrificing their firstborn child. This was exactly what the false religion of the Canaanite gods required. Instead of religious activity, God wants worshipers characterized by fairness and compassion to others and humbly dependent on Him (v. .

Years later, Jeremiah faced the same problem. Jeremiah's biting tone (v. 21) suggested that the people had forgotten the true meaning of sacrifice. The Lord's summary of His requirements (v. 23) is similar to Micah 6:8. God always wants our hearts before our sacrifices!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Just an hour on Sunday, or just a token weekly offering, won't do. We can go through the motions, often looking very religious, but we're just fooling ourselves with regard to true worship.

God isn't against our tithes and church attendance! But little bits of religious activity aren't what He wants. He wants the worship of our undivided hearts . . . hearts that reflect His mercy and justice, hearts that depend on Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 1:10-17; Amos 5:21-24
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress. - James 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the days after hurricane Katrina, Franklin Graham challenged U.S. churches on CNN's Larry King Live. Graham urged congregations to take evacuated families, providing all necessary food, shelter, schooling, and jobs.

Such a response is exactly right for the body of Christ. God's heart is for the homeless and bereaved, and local churches are called to minister in His name to those in need. Yet, all too often, God's people haven't responded this way, as we see in Isaiah and Amos. Yesterday we saw that worship that just went through the motions wasn't acceptable to God. Today we'll see that worship without justice is also unacceptable.

Isaiah used shocking language to get the nation's attention. God rejected the very worship that He had commanded! Notice how Judah was likened to Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 10). How sinful the nation had become! Although the people multiplied their offerings, they didn't change their hearts, which only increased their guilt in God's eyes. Instead of pleasing God, this hypocritical worship burdened Him.

In Amos, the language is even more shocking. God hated the people's worship! He wouldn't even listen to their songs of praise, which sounded like noise to Him (v. 23). Both Amos and Isaiah lived at about the same time, although Amos addressed northern Israel and Isaiah prophesied in southern Judah. Their similar message shows the moral decline of both kingdoms.

How could God hate the very things that He has commanded? Because He hates worship that's not pure. He hates hypocrisy. These people were offering all the right sacrifices and singing all the right songs, but their hearts were cruel and unjust.

Justice is an essential attribute of God, and a just God cannot tolerate sin, especially when it's mixed with worship. The only way their worship could be acceptable was if they sought justice and did what was right (Isa. 1:17; Amos 5:24).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Famine, poverty, and genocide continue to be realities in our world. And this means that the responsibility of God's people to seek justice and to love mercy has not ended. Concerned Christians have had significant impact on U.S. government policies regarding international sex trafficking of women and children. Financial resources given to local crisis pregnancy centers result in saving babies. And extending our time and energy to help those displaced by storms is another way that we worship God through our actions.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 24
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. - Psalm 33:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book, The Ultimate Priority, John MacArthur makes the following startling observation: “In spite of what has been written, the true mark of the Christian is not love. The mark of the Christian is that he truly worships God in the Spirit. All virtues flow from that.”

For the past few days we have looked at various examples of improper worship, either worshiping the wrong god or worshiping the true God in the wrong way. Today we look at a psalm that gets it all right—the right God and the right worship!

The psalm opens with a declaration of God's universal authority over all creation. Notice the verbs describing God's creative work—He created and established the earth. Even when events in life threaten to tear our world apart (whether literally or figuratively), our God is still in control of this world that He has made.

Understanding that God made everything stirs our souls to worship Him. But given God's awesome nature, who could possibly enter into His presence (v. 3)? Although the response to this question might seem boastful, it likely reflects David's deep humility as he realized that no one could enter God's holy place, apart from His mercy and forgiveness (vv. 4-6).

Because of this, the ones who have clean hands (indicating external actions) and pure hearts (indicating internal integrity) are those who receive His blessing and vindication. No wonder David wanted those who read this psalm to be part of the generation that seeks the Lord!

Having sought the Lord, the response of the one who ascends God's holy hill and enters His holy place is immediate and joyous praise! The occasion that inspired David was likely the return of the ark to Jerusalem (see Dec. 13). His profound sense of worship led him to compare the very gates of the city to fellow worshipers who couldn't contain their adulation and praise, but burst forth in exuberant expressions of devotion.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To lift one's head up (vv. 7, 9) means to anticipate someone's arrival with eagerness and joy. What better time of year than Christmas to lift up our heads in celebration of our Lord's birth and in anticipation of His glorious return as the King of glory, the Lord mighty in battle?

This is also a perfect time to listen to Handel's Messiah. Pay particular attention to the joyous chorus formed from the text of this psalm.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 1:1-18
In the past God spoke . . . through the prophets . . . but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. - Hebrews 1:1-2
TODAY IN THE WORD
In many ways, God's glory is like sunshine. Every part of earthly life depends on the sun. In fact, recent medical studies have linked various health problems including depression and bone-related disorders to a lack of sunshine. But like the sun, God's glory is too intense for humans to look at directly. That's what Moses found out (Ex. 33:18-23). The Lord told him that no one could see His glory and live, so He allowed Moses to see only a glimpse of it. In the incarnate Jesus, however, we can see God's glory, although the complete revelation of that glory will be seen only when He returns in exalted splendor.

John 1 contains some of the loftiest writing in the New Testament. In fact, this passage may have been one of the church's early hymns. In the first two verses, John focused on Jesus' eternal being and eternal oneness with the Father. There has never been a time when Jesus wasn't God. John then moved on to Jesus' active role in creation and redemption. Even though creation is currently wrapped in sin's darkness, the Light of the World shines into that darkness and the darkness can not understand or overcome this Light.

When this Light became flesh, humans finally beheld God's glory. Even though God's glory was partially seen by Moses, it has now been made known through Jesus Christ. As we noted earlier (see Dec. 7), verse 14 could be translated as follows: “The Word became flesh and ”˜tabernacled' among us.” Here we see that God's glory in the wilderness tabernacle, and later in the temple, was a visual aid that anticipated Jesus.

This prologue to John's Gospel helps explain why true worship must involve Jesus Christ. Worship is still directed to the same Lord God Almighty of the Old Testament, but because the Son has become flesh and redeemed us by His blood, we can now behold and approach the Father and worship Him as was never possible before. Jesus is the only Way.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The object of worship is the triune God. Admittedly, the Trinity isn't easy to understand. But as we consider worship in the New Testament, we'll see that each person of the Trinity is essential.

We might think of it this way: we worship the Father because of the access made possible by the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. If any part of this perfect Trinity is missing, so is true worship.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20
All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. - Psalm 72:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Most people dream of going from rags to riches, but few choose to go from riches to rags. Yet this was exactly what Francis of Assisi did. The son of a rich merchant, Francis grew up with wealth and all its privileges. As a student, he enjoyed drinking parties with his friends. But in 1202, he was taken as a prisoner of war and became ill. After his release, Francis gave his life to the Lord and the poor, publicly renouncing any claim to his father's wealth.

Francis's self-denial for the gospel's sake is remarkable, but it's nothing compared to the wealth that Jesus gave up to take on the nature of a servant for our sakes. Few passages detail His willing move from “riches to rags” like Philippians 2. Although eternally one with the Father, Jesus voluntarily gave up the honor and glory that were rightfully His in order to obey the Father's will. He left Heaven to become one of us, to die on a cross like a criminal. This was the most shameful death possible at this time. Yet even this He was willing to do for God's greater redemptive purposes.

Because of His perfect obedience, He has received the name above any other. Just as we saw in Revelation 5 (see Dec. 2), at His name, every creature must bow. In Philippians, this submission is combined with the verbal confession that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Colossians 1 shows that such worship is entirely fitting because Christ has created everything on earth and in heaven, including every ruling authority. Even more, all things are kept in existence by His power (v. 17). This passage underscores just how much Jesus was willing to humble Himself when He willingly died on our behalf.

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, He is the rightful ruler of the church (vv. 18-20). Because He has conquered death, He is supreme over all things and the agent of God's great work of reconciliation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Both of today's passages likely reflect ideas and words that formed early Christian hymns. These same ideas are expressed in many Christmas carols, such as “Joy to the World,” which declares that “the Savior reigns.” In “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” we find “O Jesus, to Thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.” As you sing the carols, hymns, and choruses of this Christmas season, listen for other echoes of Colossians 1 and Philippians 2 that praise Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 4:1-26
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - 2 Corinthians 3:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Without truth, our attempts to understand and approach God can range from the heretical to the ridiculous. The movie The Gods Must Be Crazy tells the story of an African Bushman trying to return an empty Coke bottle to the “gods” that he's sure dropped it on his village. The truth is that some men had carelessly thrown the bottle from a small plane. While the attempts of the Bushman to find and appease these “gods” may seem silly, people have done far more foolish things trying to approach and worship God without truth.

This describes the Samaritans, who only accepted the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. They claimed that Mount Gerizim (“this mountain” in v. 20) was the place to worship, not Jerusalem. This way of thinking was about to change for one very unlikely individual—the woman at the well.

Jesus saw beyond this woman's past to a heart that wanted something better. Normally Jews would have avoided Samaria, and certainly no Jewish man would talk to a Samaritan woman, even a respectable one. By asking for a drink, Jesus would have had to share the same cup as the woman. No wonder she was shocked (v. 9).

The woman thought that Jesus had found a new well when He talked about living water. To get to the real issues, Jesus challenged her current lifestyle (v. 16). The woman immediately switches to the topic of religion, probably thinking it would be safer! Notice how quickly she associated worship with a place. On this point, both the Jews and Samaritans were wrong—worship wasn't about Jerusalem or Gerizim, but about Spirit and truth.

Spirit and truth are connected in John's Gospel (see 16:13). Worship isn't limited to a place but is connected to a community that has the Holy Spirit and is doing the will of God. It also means that our worship should include our emotions and our reason—after all, God has created us to worship Him with all of our being.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you bought into the idea that Bible study hinders worship? Or maybe you think that correct doctrine is all that's really important. When Bible study focuses on knowledge about God, but not knowing God, then dryness results. But when worship lacks truth, serious errors creep in. As we grow in both Spirit (through prayer, praise, and fellowship) and truth (by listening to solid preaching and Bible study), worship becomes rich, nourishing, and joyous.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:5-14; Luke 11:1-4
They all joined together constantly in prayer. - Acts 1:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Everyone knew that Mark was the one to call with computer problems. So it was perfectly natural for Brian to give Mark a call when his laptop started acting funny. Mark quickly identified the problem, but after an hour on the phone trying to teach Brian what to do, he finally decided it was best to come over in person. Mark walked Brian through the necessary steps, explaining what he was doing and showing Brian how to fix the problem himself in the future.

Any good teacher knows that people learn better when things are modeled and not just explained. We see just how good a teacher Jesus was when we look at how He taught His disciples to pray.

Matthew shows us that this teaching was part of the Sermon on the Mount. In this extended sermon, Jesus taught how His followers should live, and naturally prayer was an important part of this teaching. Because life in the kingdom of God is completely different from natural human wisdom, Jesus began by teaching how His disciples should not pray.

Followers of Jesus aren't those who love to be seen as religious, visible to all with their seemingly pious and devoted prayers. Instead, believers should direct their prayers quietly to the Father, away from the public spotlight. Followers of Jesus shouldn't mindlessly repeat the same thing over and over, because God already knows our needs before we pray.

After these words, Jesus then modeled for His disciples how to pray. In Luke's Gospel, the disciples had just seen Jesus praying, so they naturally wanted Him to teach them how they should pray. The Lord's Prayer is both an example of what to pray for and an actual prayer for us to use. This prayer covers the full spectrum of our lives. The first part directs us to God's glory and will; the second part assures us that He will meet our needs.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Individual and corporate prayer are both important, but notice that the Lord's Prayer is addressed to Our Father. Prayer as a group is often lacking today. If you're in a Bible study or Sunday school class, consider praying the Lord's Prayer out loud as a group. Maybe this already happens as part of the your church's worship service. Either way, let the Lord's Prayer be part of worshiping the Lord in prayer together with other believers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 2:42-47
Let us not give up meeting together. - Hebrews 10:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Officially, China has embraced a communist ideology for over fifty years. Despite decades of harsh reprisals against anyone accused of being a Christian, underground house churches spread throughout the country. These churches refused to join the official, government-run denominations, and no one knows exactly how many churches or believers may be in China. But it is known that some of these churches have begun sending missionaries and evangelists to other regions in China, continuing to spread the good news of God throughout the country.

There are many parallels between these Chinese churches and the gatherings of the first Christians. As the gospel spread among Jewish believers, these new congregations continued to meet in their local synagogues until they were forbidden to do so. Once kicked out of the synagogue, believers began to meet in homes.

Today's passage gives us a good picture of these early worship services. This passage immediately follows the miraculous outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, when 3,000 people became followers of Jesus. One thing we see is that new believers were quickly brought into local fellowships, where they received instruction about the faith (the apostles' teaching) and learned the basics of Christian fellowship (communion and prayer). As a confirmation of the gospel, especially among Jewish believers, the Spirit worked powerful miracles through the apostles.

In Acts 2 we find a number of key elements that characterize a vital worshiping community. First, notice that fellowship centered around good teaching, communion, and prayer. This recipe still produces growth among believers. Second, there was a mutual commitment to meet each other's needs. Believers gave willingly to help each other, and this support included material and financial aid. Third, they met daily, either in a formal place of worship, such as the temple courts, or in each other's homes. Fourth, they praised God for all His good gifts. And finally, although it's not stated directly, it seems that they just enjoyed being with each other.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's easy to get sidetracked from God's purposes for a worshiping community. Acts 2 helps us get back on track. As a new year approaches, let's ask if we're devoted to God's Word and prayer. Are we willing to help each other financially? Do we meet together regularly? Are we praising God? Do we enjoy good standing among people around us? If so, we can anticipate spiritual growth in our own hearts and in our group.