From Hebrews 12: 18 You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20 (For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death." 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear.") 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26 At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." 27 This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29 for indeed our God is a consuming fire.
The Gospel reading from yesterday, which is the recommended one for Sunday, told of attitudes found in worship and in the blessings that God offers to us every time we gather to worship God. In other words what we bring to worship may shape what we take out and take home from worship. The old saying, "Your attitude determines your altitude" speaks true about worship. The hungry and eager heart to hear and praise God usually does. The reluctant or wandering heart, who can't decide if it's worth staying for the last hymn, because the Cowboys are playing, is the heart that may leave as empty if not emptier than it arrived.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of worship beginning with references to the first Exodus worship experiences with God at Mt. Zion. The people of God were gathered in the presence of the living God and were exposed to living words shared from God by Moses. Yet, it was fear that shaped their spirit and they were unwilling to hear, and as evidenced by their responses later, unwilling to live the teachings of God. The concluding part of the passage says that we are people of God that cannot be shaken by fear or doubt; we are a people that should gather to give thanks to God and to offer to Him "acceptable worship with reverence and awe," meaning that regardless of the music our spirits should be attuned to what God is going to share in that moment of corporate worship. And may we take it home and put into the practice of our lives.
PRAYER: Loving God, prepare my heart even today for the worship due You all days, but more so on the day I set aside for You. Do not let me be tempted to be among those jogging or walking or washing or wandering the streets on the day You have called me to gather with Your people; but make me one who invites others to the joy that can be ours in the act of worship. This I ask in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
