Respect in Worship

It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell on me there. ... He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain. Ezekiel 8:1, 3-4 

Visions from the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel had an earlier vision a little more than a year before this that was his initial call into his prophetic ministry. The Spirit then entered me and made me stand on my feet, and He spoke with me …. Ezekiel 3:24. God sent him to the rebellious Israelites. 

In this passage the Holy Spirit gives Ezekiel another vision of Jerusalem—lifting him up between earth and heaven. Ezekiel had a preview of the Israelites worshiping idols and other Gods. Kneeling down in the inner court of Temple, facing the east prostrating themselves in worship. What does that image bring to mind? Facing the east in a prostrate worship position.  Sounds like a group of Islamic worshipers today. It is  disrespectful to worship another god in the Temple. Respect is everything…even in a vision. Are you respectful in your worship of our God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit? We don’t have to face the Temple…or where the Temple once stood to worship the true God. Respect begins with a humble and obedient heart. Consider this scripture…A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?' Malachi 1:6. Think about how you worship the Lord…is it just with singing, praying and listening to a sermon? Or do you worship daily by reading His Word, praying, maybe singing…and offering Him your undivided attention?  

Prayer ~ Holy Spirit, accept my worship for You are the true God—worthy of my praise.

© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

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