"And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were ritually clean."
Ezra 6:19-20a
Before worship comes cleansing. There was a purification process the priests and Levites had to observe before they could enter into spiritual ministry. In fact, there was a bowl situated just in front of the entrance to the Holy Place called the laver, where they would wash themselves before entering. They had the awesome responsibility of purifying themselves. It seems in 2010 we have such a casual approach to worship. We feel we can come to God in any old way we want. A popular Christian song say, "Come, just as you are to worship." But what does God say? Jesus said that the Father is searching for those who worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). He also said that when we bring our gifts to the altar, and we remember that another person has something against us, that we should first be reconciled to our brother, "and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24). Then Paul gave instruction to the person who would partake of the Lord Supper to "examine himself" in order to avoid judgment (I Corinthians 11:27-29). Worship is an awesome thing and we need to approach it with great reverence.
Today's Thought: God calls for worshipers to be "cleansed and made holy."
Have a worshiping day. Love you.
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