JOINING GOD AT WORK - God Calls Us to Worship

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “When the seventh month came and the Israelites were settled in their towns, the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem. Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice grunt offering one it. . .” (Ezra 3:1-2)
          Passage: Psalm 19:7-14

        After the seventy year exile in Babylon, God’s promise that the exile would be over after 70 years was fulfilled with the edict of King Cyrus allowing the Jews to return to Israel. Only 50,000 went back in that initial group, but after they had settled back in their various ancestral home towns, the first thing they did, was go to Jerusalem and rebuild the altar for worship. The altar was the place where sacrifices were made to atone for sin and show commitment to God.

When Jesus came, the old covenant was done away with and we no longer have to make sacrifices on an altar like they made, for Hebrews 13:10 tells us, “We have an altar. . .” That altar is the cross where the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ was crucified. There is no need for any sacrifice other than what He made for us. When we put our faith in Him, our first response should be to worship. Hebrews 13:15 tells us, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. Worship is loving God through praising Him and presenting ourselves to Him for service. God calls us to worship. Answer the call and love Him with all your heart.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)