Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem
Names and Titles of God (The Living Hope) 1 Peter 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
King James Version
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Every day on this Thread, I post a personal prayer. It is almost always a Prayer of Praise for WHO God IS. This is in line with the many Names He has given Himself in Scripture. We have been looking at these Names since February, and there are still more to go.
There are many types of worship. Paul alludes to the most primitive in the First Chapter of Romans, when he speaks of the depravity of humans worshiping CREATION rather than the Creator. Divinity is attributed to the rocks and trees, and people worship them directly. In our "civilized" society, one would think that this type of worship doesn't exist, yet there is a YT video of a group "mourning" the Death of Trees. Be prepared for some extreme foolishness.
The next "step up" is the ascribing to rocks, plants, water, mountains, and animals a sort of indwelling "spirit". Practitioners of this kind of "religion" pray, not to the rocks themselves, but to the "spirit" within the rock. Some will set up the rock as a focus for prayer, and there we have the beginnings of the creation of idols. This belief is often called Animism, and fits Paul's definition of worshiping created things instead of the One Who made them.
Next on this "Highway to Hell" is the actual creation of gods in man's own image. Since fertility meant survival, the gods and goddesses had exaggerated sexual features. These gods and goddesses were definitely not pretty, and, in Victorian times, their idols were hidden in the back rooms of the museum.
Next up...the idealized gods and goddesses that are formed to fit the idea of the "Ideal Human". Slender, graceful goddesses, and Herculean gods from Ancient Greece still influence Art and Architecture to this very day. While much better-looking than a Mesopotamian Fertility Goddess, these are still idols, and still ineffectual as gods. With one goddess for love, one for war, one for peace, one for justice, one for the household arts, and one for wisdom, how can they get anything done? A god that is only god of a certain thing is not God at all.
Finally, we come to Monotheism. Be aware, though, not all monotheism worships the God of the Bible. Even Islam, which claims to worship The God of Abraham, actually traces their one god to a Moon Deity from Arabia. (Ever wonder what the Crescent Moon on top of every minaret stands for?)
Only the God of the Bible has given us all these Names and Titles so we can get to know Him in all His Fullness. He is the Creator, and He Is Who He Is. He is never surprised or blindsided by events, and nothing shocks Him. Therefore, when we worship, we can worship Him for WHAT HE DOES, or even better, for WHO HE IS.
Back in 2017, I shared this story:
Just last week, my two nephews' Rock Band had a very important gig in what may be the most prestigious venue in Boston for Rock Music, The House of Blues. OF COURSE, all the aunties and moms and dads were anxious to attend and support the guys and celebrate with them. The only snag was that the venue is located right next door to Fenway Park, and the Red Sox were playing the Chicago Cubs AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE CONCERT. This was going to present a traffic, parking, and pedestrian nightmare. We crammed as many moms and aunties into one car, paid $50.00 for the last parking spot nearby, and walked the rest of the way. It was a beautiful night, so we didn't mind.
As we wended our way past the old brick walls of the Antique Baseball Park, we could hear a constant roar of the cheering crowd, which rose and fell in unison, and filled the night sky all around us. It was palpable, exciting, and wonderful, all at the same time. We figured the Sox were winning, and winning BIG. We joyously went to the concert, enjoyed it thoroughly, and cheered on our "guys" who did an awesome job.
It was not till later, that we found out that the Red Sox had NOT won the game, even though they played well. All that cheering that had filled the night was for who they ARE, not for just for what they DID. And when we were cheering the band, we were loving them for who they are as well, not just the fact that they made great music. Boston LOVES the Red Sox, and we LOVE our sons in the band!
Now, don't get me wrong! It is not proper to "worship" Rock Stars or Sports Teams. They too, are created beings. The accolades they receive are for their hard work and for their God-Given Talent. Some Sports Figures and Rock Stars have TERRIBLE Personalities, which goes to show that they are all only created human beings, just like you and me. True Worship is for the One and Only, Who IS Our Living Hope.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. (Mark 4:22)
God Bless America.
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS