Good morning, everyone.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 10:25, “When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.”
If ever there was a verse of scripture that could write its own devotion, this verse is that verse. While the image of Cornelius bowing down before Peter might not conjure up any familiar actions on our part, where you or I actually fall to our knees and show obeisance as if a subject to a king, the idea of worshiping and giving preference to something that does not deserve it is a theme that repeatedly plays out in our lives, despite our objections otherwise. Even with a week full of devotion and service and good deeds and church attendance, our appetites are still prone to focus on trivialities, whether insignificant or momentous. Ten minutes of contemplation would suffice for any of us to generate a list of affections that reveals our knees bent before an object or an image or an emotion, seeking acceptance or approval or satisfaction where none resides. The first of the ten great commandments, having no other gods before the Lord our God, restated by Jesus as loving Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind, is as familiar to us as John 3:16, yet the idols still rule us, many times without our realizing it. And since your days go along mostly as you would like, with many more highs than lows, whatever acknowledgement you may grant of worshiping at the wrong altar fails to strike you as a warning sign. But, in love Jesus is calling out. Your entire heart is what He died to redeem, and all of Himself is what He promised to give.
Despite His mercy, which blesses even when we give Him only part of what He deserves, He is not content to be one of your objects of devotion, or the master over most of the areas of your life, or the authority in certain situations. When we value anything more than Him, it is a sin, and He died for it. In essence He said, “Because you want to worship other things, I have to sacrifice My life to set you free from that.” So, just because the breaks generally go your way, and your soul is inclined to honor God, and He does not rain down fire and brimstone when His glory is robbed, remember that the grace that preserves you is also beckoning you to surrender. And a holy God, worthy to be worshiped, is on the throne.
As we seek Him today, ferret out an area where your heart is misaligned, and give that place to King Jesus.
Have an honorable 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.
