Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Desiring to Worship the Lord from My Heart, Because He is Gracious to Me!

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

What does true worship look like?  The Almighty Lord has given us a commandment about worship.   "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)  There is a sense in which worship of the Lord of all is the law.  Christians seek to follow this direction for healthy lives through weekly gatherings with God’s people for thanks and praise and fellowship. 

 

But the Lord teaches that real worship is not primarily done in outward actions in order to obey.  God seeks worship from the heart.  For example, consider David’s words in Psalm 51. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)  Or, as Jesus teaches the woman at the well in John 4, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)

 

I ask you to consider our relationship with the Lord through worship because I recently read a verse in daily devotions which struck me as worship from the heart.  I have previously read this verse many times.  But this time, as I was reading 2 Samuel, it caught my attention.  In 2 Samuel 7 David calls the prophet Nathan into his presence and shares that he wants to build a house for the Lord.  However, the Lord turns the tables on David.  “ . . . the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.” (2 Samuel 7:11)  The Lord promises to establish His kingdom through David and His family.  And the Lord will not just establish His kingdom through the lineage of David in this world, but eternally . . . through Jesus!

 

As he should have been, David was overwhelmed.  As I read David’s response, I sensed worship from his heart.  David responds to God’s grace with these words. “And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.”

(2 Samuel 7:28)

 

I was once taught that worship and prayer begins with PRAISE, honoring God for who He is.  That is what David does.  And now, O Lord GOD, you are God”  The Lord who saved Israel in the Exodus, who has called David to be king, this Lord is GOD.  He is almighty.  He rules everything.  David issues this praise to the One who has seen David through Goliath, and Saul, and other trials.  “YOU ARE GOD!”

 

David also acknowledges the CHARACTER of the Lord.  “ . . . you are God, and your words are true.”  In a world of falsehood and half-truths, God’s words are true.  We can trust the reliable word of God to bring truth to our lives.  So, in response to God’s promise, David declares that The Lord is God.  David proclaims the Lord speaks truth.

 

I was then taught that true worship begins with PRAISE for Who God is, and then follows with THANKS for what He has done, for God’s acts of grace and goodness in our lives. So, David offers thanks.   “ . . . and you have promised this good thing to your servant.”

 

So, with a heart of thanks for God’s love, David had desired to build an earthly temple for His Lord.  But the Lord and Ruler of all instead establishes a heavenly kingdom through David.  Overwhelmed, from the heart, David praises God, acknowledges Him, and thanks Him for His goodness and His grace.  That is worship which our Lord desires – worship from the heart!

 

Have you been surprised at God’s gifts and actions of love and grace for you?  Have you experienced the surprise of God’s love in your life through Jesus?   As rebellious and disobedient children, we do not deserve our Lord’s love.  We do deserve His punishment, death, and condemnation.  Yet, knowing our failings, God nevertheless sent His Son. Jesus lovingly sacrificed His life for us and offers us forgiveness.  Jesus powerfully rose from the dead and invites us into the heavenly kingdom of God.  Have you acknowledged WHO the Lord is?  Have you recognized His character of grace and truth? Have you thanked him, from your heart? That is true worship which our Lord desires.

 

The Lord and Maker of all created the Sabbath because we need the truth of God’s Word.  We need the assurance of His grace and love. And as people who stray we need the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father.  When we realize the Lord’s overwhelming grace for our sinful lives, how can we do anything other than worship Him from our hearts? God’s plan is that we worship with other believers.

 

Worship does not just happen by sitting in a pew on Sunday mornings.  True worship is a lifelong response to the Lord of love.  Do David’s words echo your heart? “And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.”  After all, through faith you are part of God’s eternal kingdom. 

 

A Child of God, Desiring to Worship the Lord from My Heart, Because He is Gracious to Me!

Pastor Jonathan 

 

 

P.P.S.  NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!

 

CALL COMMITTEE NEWS – The First Lutheran Call Committee has worked through a lot of names submitted by the District and by First Lutheran members.  After interviews and prayerful deliberation, the call committee is bringing Pastor Jay Winters from Tallahassee to First Lutheran for a visit with congregational leaders the week of July 21.  After this visit the call committee will then decide if it should recommend this man to First Lutheran to consider calling as pastor.  PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.

 

NEW MEMBERS AT FIRST LUTHERAN – First Lutheran received 3 new members in worship on Sunday, July 7.  Keith Barnett was received by adult confirmation.  Wil Droege and Marilyn Jaquette were received by transfer.  Welcome to God’s family at First Lutheran!  Here is a picture of our new members after worship on Sunday.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/YuBJhqUaUe1MgaF2A

 

VBS TAKES PLACE AT FIRST LUTHERAN JULY 22-26!  Please and invite children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends! 

PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE FOR VBS!!!!!

Here is a link to the registration form. 

https://flcgainesville.org/2024-vacation-bible-school/

 

FIRST LUTHERAN HAS BEGUN A ROOF FUND, and an AIR CONDITIONER FUND. In an announcement at the May 19 Voters’ Meeting we learned that to put a new roof on the sanctuary, the office building, the fellowship hall, the preschool, and the student housing will cost about $200,000.00  The roof is still in good shape.  But we have had leaks, and it has been about 20 years since the roof was last replaced.  First Lutheran leaders want to act before the roofs fail. 

In addition, we learned at the June Mission and Ministry Council meeting that our Air Conditioners are old will need replacing.  

Please consider how God may lead you toward these needs in the future.

 

WE CONTINUE TO STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the Besalski Fellowship Hall.  We are now studying chapter 18 and learning of Paul’s work in Corinth.  On July 7th we made it through 2 whole questions!  😊  Come and join us in studying about the history of the early Christian Church!

 

WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s Light Devotional Bible.  We are now in 2 Samuel and reading about the reign of King David.  On Monday, July 8, we read 2 Samuel 11 and 12.  In previous chapters we had read about David’s stellar character and faith.  But, beginning in these chapters, we learn of David’s weaknesses, his failings, and His need for the promised Savior.

Feel free to contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these readings.  Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net

 

P.P.S.  PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

 

I WENT FISHING THREE TIMES THIS LAST WEEK and . . . caught fish. 

·       On Thursday morning, July 4, I tried to fish in Lake Geneva in Keystone Heights.  However, the lake is low and the boat ramp does not connect to the lake.  I did get out into the water and try out some reels I had cleaned and greased and oiled.  They all worked well.  Here is a picture.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/ByDPaP81YHYmaoER7

 

·       On Saturday, July 6, I fished on the Suwannee River.  It was a HOT day, but I caught fish for the first time in a while.  The one keeper, a 14” bass, I released where I caught it.  Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/iBrBHuew7YsY1cXCA

 

·       On Sunday, July 7, after worship I took nephew, Jayden Pruim, fishing.  The weather report LOOKED promising.  But the reality was different.  We fished for about 45 minutes.  We had 5 bites and caught 3 fish.  But the big cloud that developed caused us to flee for shelter.  We took the boat out of the water just as the rain and thunder and lightening were starting.  Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/DeLCFbQV7WzJ8ptx5

 

 

 

*******

 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as full-time senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, AK.  I was writing a weekly devotion previously entitled, "Thoughts from the Pastor."  When I retired many asked me to continue writing these devotions.  So I have continued writing.  However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys Through Life as a Child of God."  Since I am no longer senior pastor at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who asked to receive it.  (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL.)

        So, if you stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, now you understand.  And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive them, please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution list.  My e-mail address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.

        My prayer is that these devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our Lord, Jesus.

 

                                                                        *******

Jonathan Rockey

Child of God

Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather

Vacancy Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL

Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK


 

 

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)

 

 

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