Devotionals
May 6th, 2006
Pastor Frank gave a devotional on "The Foundations Of Worship". Worship can simply be defined as to express
praise and devotion.
Pastor Frank challenged us with this question - "What's inside your heart?"
(Think Capital One commercials - What's inside your wallet?). There are many ways to worship. It can be through
singing, praying, reading, attending church (worship service), volunteering, etc. Worship is a lifestyle. You can
worship anytime and anywhere.
In Genesis 22:1-14, God tested Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a burnt offering. What did
Abraham do? He gathered wood, fire,
and a knife and headed out on donkey with two servants and his son on a three day journey. When they arrived at
the mountain, Abraham told the servants to stay while he and Isaac go and worship. This is the first mention of the
word 'worship' in the bible. Abraham bound his son, laid him on the alter and raised his knife to slay his son. God
called out to Abraham in which he replied - "Here I am". The Lord said "Do not lay a hand on the boy".
There are two foundations of worship.
1. Sacrifice
2. Obedience
Read Romans 12:1-2. "... offer your bodies as living sacrifices...". God wants us to worship him by sacrificing our
sinful ways. Abraham sacrificed
his physical comfort. He was 100 years old when he made that three day journey to sacrifice his son.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice of dying on the cross for payment of our sins. Read Hebrews 10:11-14. Hebrews
10:14 says "because by one sacrifice
he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
Back to the story of Abraham. Abraham showed obedience. He gathered the necessary equipment (wood, fire, knife)
and people (Isaac). This story is a
foreshadow of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice.
The greatest example of sacrifice and obedience is Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Not my will but yours be
done.
Think about these questions:
1. If the Lord were to look into your heart today, what would He find?
2. Are you making sacrifices to please yourself and others, or are these sacrifices being made out of obedience to
God?
3. What sacrifices do you feel God wants you to begin making today?
4. What kind of distractions prevent you from hearing the voice of the Lord?
5. How can you remove these distractions from your life?
6. Pray about what sacrifices the Lord wants you to stop making (disobedience) and pray about those He wants you
to begin making (obedience).
7. Do you hear when God calls?
Pastor Frank gave a devotional on "The Foundations Of Worship". Worship can simply be defined as to express
praise and devotion.
Pastor Frank challenged us with this question - "What's inside your heart?"
(Think Capital One commercials - What's inside your wallet?). There are many ways to worship. It can be through
singing, praying, reading, attending church (worship service), volunteering, etc. Worship is a lifestyle. You can
worship anytime and anywhere.
In Genesis 22:1-14, God tested Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a burnt offering. What did
Abraham do? He gathered wood, fire,
and a knife and headed out on donkey with two servants and his son on a three day journey. When they arrived at
the mountain, Abraham told the servants to stay while he and Isaac go and worship. This is the first mention of the
word 'worship' in the bible. Abraham bound his son, laid him on the alter and raised his knife to slay his son. God
called out to Abraham in which he replied - "Here I am". The Lord said "Do not lay a hand on the boy".
There are two foundations of worship.
1. Sacrifice
2. Obedience
Read Romans 12:1-2. "... offer your bodies as living sacrifices...". God wants us to worship him by sacrificing our
sinful ways. Abraham sacrificed
his physical comfort. He was 100 years old when he made that three day journey to sacrifice his son.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice of dying on the cross for payment of our sins. Read Hebrews 10:11-14. Hebrews
10:14 says "because by one sacrifice
he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
Back to the story of Abraham. Abraham showed obedience. He gathered the necessary equipment (wood, fire, knife)
and people (Isaac). This story is a
foreshadow of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice.
The greatest example of sacrifice and obedience is Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Not my will but yours be
done.
Think about these questions:
1. If the Lord were to look into your heart today, what would He find?
2. Are you making sacrifices to please yourself and others, or are these sacrifices being made out of obedience to
God?
3. What sacrifices do you feel God wants you to begin making today?
4. What kind of distractions prevent you from hearing the voice of the Lord?
5. How can you remove these distractions from your life?
6. Pray about what sacrifices the Lord wants you to stop making (disobedience) and pray about those He wants you
to begin making (obedience).
7. Do you hear when God calls?