Good morning, everyone.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 8:28, “He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.”
I have a friend who took the 1,200 mile, round-trip journey to and from Orlando by train several years ago. When he got back, he said, “Never again.” Between the smells of the sweaty passengers who had spent the entire summer day at Disney and then loaded on board for the train ride home, and the constant moving and tossing and rocking of the train car, the thirteen hours coming home had been the longest year of his life. But that trip was nothing compared to the Ethiopian’s excursion to Jerusalem to worship. Depending on where he came from in Ethiopia, he may have ridden upwards of 3,000 miles in the luxurious, open-air compartment of a first-century chariot. Each way. That’s quite a commitment for one who wants to get to church to worship. My Sundays used to include getting showered and dressed, ironing my shirt, reviewing my Sunday school lesson, and then a leisurely, 15-minute drive in my air-conditioned car. Occasionally I had to cook breakfast for the youth that might add an extra 45 minutes to the routine. But now, because of the coronavirus, Sundays are different. There’s even less involved to get to worship. And afterwards, there’s still the entire afternoon and evening to do whatever I please. But after his time at the temple, the Ethiopian and whoever was driving him headed south on their weeks-long journey, and the eunuch was spending his time after worship reading the scriptures. And what’s more, he was reading parts that he didn’t even understand, and reading them out loud.
So, compare his time after church to yours and mine. Are you tempted like I am to think that you’ve taken care of your worship and spiritual time for the day once you get back in your car, especially if you’ve been there for three hours or so, or are a teacher, or served in the nursery? Or maybe you’re done for the entire week. That’s kind of the opposite reaction that time in true worship should have on us. Time spent exalting the King, connecting with Him and being challenged, encouraged, and re-energized, should propel us to want more, not less. So check out your heart’s worship posture this Sunday, and make your time with Jesus an all-day thing.
As we seek Him today, spend time with Christ to prepare yourself to spend more time with Christ.
Have a super Thursday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
