. Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
The two thoughts I want to consider as we reflect on Solomon’s wise words on ways to worship are “Guard your steps” and "God is in heaven and you are on earth.”
means to ascribe worth. Specifically, we ascribe worth to God. We realize our humility before Him and His awesome character. He is on the throne. He is in heaven. We are the ones who have sinned and fall short of His glory. We do not come to Him on our terms, but on His. We respond to Him in humility and by guarding our steps according to His will and ways.
In the 1860s De Tocqueville of France visited America. Upon his return he wrote, "I sought for the greatness of America in her harbors and rivers and fertile fields and in her mines and commerce. It was not there. Not until I went into the churches and heard her pulpits flamed with righteousness did I understand the greatness of her power. America is great because she is good; and if America ever ceases to be good America will cease to be great."
has influenced our nation was the reverence for God. It was the response to His holiness and sovereignty. The beginning of wisdom is positioning Him as Lord and ourselves as servants. It is opening our hearts to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. It is responding to His love by faith and living by His commands.
would have thought that evil would now be acceptable and part of society’s policies? The worldview of this age has so influenced the church. Worship needs to focus on God and not on us. We need to be responders. He declares what is good and bad. We respond in guarding our steps and seeking to submit to His authority and truth.
These days government may be limiting our freedom of religion, but it cannot limit the works of God. Political laws can enforce relativism, but He is still in His Heaven. The schools may be required to teach acceptance of alternative life styles and gender confusion, but that does not change truth of our creator. Planned Parenthood can influence votes in Congress and Senate, allowing abortion on demand even beyond birth, but the right to life belongs to God. He will judge our nation by His righteousness.
Ponder this: Worship is responding to His sovereignty, love, and power by reverently coming before Him as He is, not how we want to remake Him.
Prayer: Lord, the reason I live, is to worship You.
