FIRST AID

By Rick Mathes

Hebrews 10:1 (NASB77) For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.

Worship is too often contrived by the traditions of the church you are attending and mechanically followed like mind-less robots in a theater production. Stand up, sin, sit, kneel, recite a prayer, dip hand in holy water, make sign of the cross, smile at everyone, leave, go home and resume normal sinning patterns. You did more good than bad. Hogwash!

With no intent of setting up another dreary ritual for worship I would like to suggest a few aids to enhance your worship experience with Jesus. I believe the door to His glory is just plain meditating of who He is, what He said and what He did. A rerun of all you know with your toes sunk in Israeli sand will set the stage for all that is to follow.

Once you stand face to face with Him you will automatically confess your sins in total shame of what He knows about the real you. The Holy Spirit will drop you to your knees in heart-felt repentance.

With a clear conscience you will sense that God imparts His praises and you will worship Him is song without a thought about those who can hear you, your mind, heart and soul will soar in harmony with Him.

You will notice an orderliness among your brethren as corporate worship becomes spontaneous and all the swords are pointed to the evil one and no longer to each other.

At this point you are ready for the highest honor of a Christian. You can step into the throne room and talk to God person to person. That is exactly what prayer is, conversation with the Holy One. Astounding!

This experience will cause you to go to full-throttle for the Kingdom in your prayers, volunteer time, and financial support. We realize that everything including our next breath is His.

Bible study is the ignition that makes all the above happen and guess what the last thing Satan wants you to do? You have it! Pick up the Bible and have God speak to you. Will you just let the Word lay on the rack or “pick up and read?”