Living a Life of Worship
Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
theopneustos – – The Onoo Stos
This greek word is used once in the entire New Testament. It is unique and stands alone to describe the authority and paramount importance of scripture.
Scripture, is God breathed.
Inspired by God.
In the same way, God’s creation of mankind, was God’s plan.
God formed man.
God breathed into man.
The picture of God leaning over us, breathing on us,
That we might live,
That we might walk in his light
That we might know his love,
That we might be a reflection of His life
That we might reflect His Light,
That we might love Him in return.
Life.
The unthinking act of breath.
Respiration.
God breathed into us the breath of life.
Breath.
In, out.
When that process stops, life ends.
This is true in the natural.
It’s also true in the spirit.
Natural breath is without thought, it’s instinctual.
Spiritual breath requires thought, it’s not natural.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7
The breath in is a gift from God, what we do with that breath is a choice.
Spiritual life,
A conscience decision,
To focus our direction and dedication,
“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” Psalms 150:6
The Last Verse of the book of psalms ends with this epitaph.
Each breath in, is a gift of God.
If this one is the last one, let’s make it count.
If we have more to come, let’s be sure we make it habit until then.
Thank You Jesus,
For another breath,
Thank you Jesus,
For the blood applied,
Thank you Jesus,
You were crucified,
Thank you Jesus,
You have changed my life,
Thank you Jesus,
You have brought me out of darkness to this glorious life.
One day, our last breath will have been breathed,
And for those who are in Christ Jesus, we will be ushered into a place with no death, sorrow, pain or problems, war or famine, pestilence or violence, politics or racism, hatred or strife,
For those who are in Christ Jesus, we have hope when we have no breath.
Until then,
Thank you for another chance, another breath to Praise the Lord.
The Proper Response to The Breath of God
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Eskimos have over 100 words for snow.
Why?
Because they live in a land of snow.
In the Bible there are 15 words for praise.
Why?
Because we live in a world that is flavored by praise.
950 Words, names and titles for God
Because people of faith understand,
John 1:3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Avodah
The Ancient Hebrews had a deep understanding of how faith and work came together in their lives. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that they used the same word for work and worship.
The Hebrew word avodah jointly means work, worship, and service. The various usages of this Hebrew word found first in Genesis 2:15 tell us that God’s original design and desire is that our work and our worship would be a seamless way of living.
“But as for me and my household, we will serve (avodah) the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15
As for me, Joshua says, I will avodah. I will work for, and worship, the Lord.
This is a powerful image to think that the word for working in the fields is the same word used for worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Avodah is a picture of an integrated faith. A life where work and worship come from the same root. The same foundation.
So often we think of worship as something we do on Sunday and work as something we do on Monday. This dichotomy is neither what God designed nor what he desires for our lives.
Avodah, on the other hand, suggests that our work can be a form of worship where we honor the Lord God, and serve our neighbors.
Colossians 3:16-17
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Matthew 26
7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.