"Once Bitten"

"Teach me good judgments and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments." (Psalms 119:66)

  Okay, so someone stupid was in the news this morning and helped with this title; but it speaks to the change which must take place in the hearts of all who are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. I heard someone say the other day, the first thing that happens in the new life of a believer is worship. If you have been saved and you skipped out on the worship part of your new life, you might need to go back to the cross and try again! The message for Men at the Cross yesterday morning was based upon that simple concept of worshipping God. What is real worship? What does God ask of us? What is it that we have to offer to God, each and every one the same? Worship! Looking up the definition of what worship means, many dictionaries have missed the mark on the motivation of what makes us worship God. Of all the definitions from the different sources, one comes closer than most, the source is found at 'The Free Dictionary,' and the definition is love! Love is the thing that makes our worship of God real and sincere. It is His love for us that has bitten us, and our love for Him is expressed in our worship of Him and all that He stands for. Actually, the Scripture used for the message yesterday was pretty much spot on with what is being said above, that God does not desire sacrifices and burnt offerings, but He desires a changed heart. Again, I will go back to my very first post on this wild ride, New Years Day 2010. The question I woke up thinking about, is what motivates us more to obey God, is it fear or love? I guess the question I might asked today, is, what does God want most of us, to fear Him, or to love Him? Well according to James 2:19, fear does not cause one to worship God; as a matter of fact, the way James puts it, "the devils also believe, and tremble." So, fear is not a motivating factor as far the fallen angles are concerned. But love, on the other hand, as Jesus said of what love actually means for us: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40) Basically, when it comes right down to it, love is our expression of worship, period...

"What can we bring to the LORD? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:6-8) NLT