SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“’Sir,’ the woman said, ‘I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.’ Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” [John 4:19-23]
This Samaritan woman talks with Jesus about places of worship.
Behind this conversation is the message of Deuteronomy 12, as well as the troubled history between the Jews and the Samaritan half-breeds.
Jesus exposes the error of both the Jews and the Samaritans.
They failed to realize that God’s warning about one place of worship was to prevent the worship of other gods, not because the site was more sacred than others.
Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim [symbol of blessing, Deuteronomy 11:29] were only symbols of pure devotion to God as the only God. Whereas the other nations worshiped the gods of rivers and trees and the sun, etc., they were to worship the only God from the heart, in the truth of Who He was.
Not until Jesus breaks the power of sin and gives us God’s Spirit do we experience the liberating freedom of worshipping God authentically and accurately.
The time has come. Through Jesus, by the Spirit, we are able to worship God wherever we are, whatever we are doing.
There is only one God, and He is Lord over all aspects of creation and life.
Moses’ Law gives specific regulations that guide and control worship.
But these are not eternal laws but temporary rules that protect us from sin and rebellion, until Jesus sets us free.
“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” [Galatians 3:24-25]
The lesson from Deuteronomy 12 is to make sure we keep our focus on God.
It is a warning about distraction, about compromising our commitment to God with other worldly interests.
It is an encouragement to take steps to keep the focus on the Lord (fixing it on the mind, tying symbols on the hand, binding them on foreheads, etc.).
In other words, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep your heart devoted to the Lord.
What steps will I take? What symbol will I use? What discipline will I commit to?
PRAYER:
Lord, I am easily distracted. I choose the symbol of the cross as a reminder of Your love for me, and my love for You, wherever I am!
Worship Me.
Follow Me.
These are the laws that you must do to follow Me. Worship Me.
Our eyes need to be turned on Jesus. Our eyes need to be turned on our ‘home’ and not on the ways of the peoples around us. Our focus must be Christ, whose we are. Follow His commands. Follow His way for there is no other way.
Happiness is . . . living for Jesus in all we do and say. Happiness is . . . the Jesus way. Happiness is . . . walking with the Saviour in His SonShine.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Refrain
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain