Worthy of Worship

 And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

– Isaiah 6:3

Is any particular faith or religion better than any other? 

In this era of moral relativism, many people say that it makes no difference. But let’s consider that Christ-followers like you and me have the privilege of worshiping the one true God who’s revealed, proclaimed, and proven throughout the 66 books of the Bible. 

No other faith can make such a staunch claim. In contrast, various religions around the world promote false deities, ancestor worship, and even the reverence of living things or nature (worshiping the creation rather than the Creator). Then there are today’s popular false teachings such as New Age, Scientology, and Kabbalah. How many religions are there? While an exact number is impossible to pinpoint, scholars estimate that there are between 4,000 and 10,000 worldwide.

It’s interesting to note that even atheists are active worshipers. True, they’re not faith-filled churchgoers who proclaim Jesus as their Savior. But they — like everyone — bow to their favorite idols. Some worship money, luxury, and pleasure while others bend the knee to intellect and higher learning. And still more kneel at the altar of more-negative gods such as alcohol, drugs, and illicit relationships.

The saying goes that there are no atheists on the battlefield. But within everyone rages a different conflict: The God of the Bible versus the world’s gods and idols. And it's our hearts and souls that are the prizes of this hotly contested struggle.

Perhaps you and I don’t literally kneel and worship before an Old Testament-style golden idol. But secretly (and maybe not-so-secretly), we do cherish our own personal gods. Think about the things you worry about or sacrifice your time and money for. What are the issues that make you angry? What brings you the most joy? And here’s a revealing question: Whose attention and adoration do you most crave?

For Christ-followers, encountering God’s holiness transforms how we see ourselves — and how we respond to his calling. So, let’s reflect on the God (and false gods) in our lives, and choose the only One who’s worthy of worship. As Joshua — Moses’ successor — proclaimed to the leaders of Israel through his farewell address:

“But if it doesn't please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship — the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord."

God’s Waiting Room

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’"

– Isaiah 46:10

We live in a 24/7 world of hurry — one of instant messaging, Amazon Prime, and microwave popcorn. And just about anything we want is available through a mere tap or two on our smartphone. But take another look, and you'll discover that we're not always on the move. On average, we spend between 45 and 62 minutes per day just waiting, such as in traffic or at the grocery store checkout. And for many folks, this adds up to about five idle years over a lifetime.

Few people like to wait, and multi-tasking to make the most of downtime has become a valued life-skill. But the fact is that waiting isn't always a waste. Instead, it can be an essential part of God's plan for our lives — a process that enables us to become. This concept might be difficult to grasp because the human viewpoint of time differs greatly from our Creator’s. Here’s how the apostle Peter puts it into perspective:

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends. To the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day."

We need to understand that what happens while we're waiting is often more important than what we're waiting for. Ask anyone who has spent grueling hours at the hospital contemplating the health and future of a loved one. Did their soul-searching experience bring a closer dependence on God? It's when we're so humbled and powerless that we realize we can do nothing on our own.

The good news is that Christ-followers like you and me are a people with a future. And as broken as we are, God promises to rescue and restore us through his coming Messiah — Jesus. So, let’s make the most of our time in God's Waiting Room — a place where we can look for ways and opportunities to say yes to him with a sense of expectancy and hope. As Psalm 130:5 reminds us:

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."

Penny for Your Thoughts

It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 

– 3 John 3

The U.S. Treasury minted about 540 billion Lincoln pennies between the coin’s 1909 introduction and the series’ end in November 2025. And nearly each one features the motto In God We Trust inscribed by Honest Abe’s profile. 

You’ll also see the phrase E Pluribus Unum — Latin for Out of many, one — on the penny’s flip side. An early motto of the United States, it’s a reminder that our nation was born when the 13 Colonies united behind the common cause of liberty. The Founding Fathers from Massachusetts often clashed politically and socially with their compatriots from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia. But they set aside their many differences to write the Declaration of Independence, win the Revolutionary War, and eventually ratify the Constitution.

Here’s where the Bible lesson comes in: The Church — meaning all Christ-followers on Earth — is also an entity that’s marked by distinct differences. Believers come from various religious traditions and have a broad range of preferences regarding worship music and sermon style. Likewise, the Church is also a place where all races are welcome and present. It mingles the rich, the poor, and the middle class. But what unites them all — or at least should bring them together — is a common faith and focus on Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Shortly before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed to his Father (God) about the Church — and not just his original followers, but also Believers like you and me in the centuries to follow: 

"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Christ’s prayer for his followers’ unity links the dusty streets of 1st century Israel with the crowded superhighways of modern North America and Europe … and everywhere in between. Moreover, it’s a reminder that Believers were never meant to go through life alone. Instead, we’re to gather regularly to share our joys, troubles, triumphs — and even doubts — all to strengthen our walks of faith. We’re also secure in God’s love, so there’s no need to compete for recognition or control. And that means we can use what we have to strengthen others … and help God’s work flourish. 

As Believers united in Jesus, we’re indeed one out of many. And it’s also in God we must trust.

The Naked Truth

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

– 2 John 6

First published in 1837, The Emperor’s New Clothes is a beloved short story by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote that there was once an emperor whose life revolved around fashion. This ruler even had a stylish outfit for every hour of the day. So it happened that two swindlers — claiming to be master weavers — arrived at his castle. And they assured the chic royal that they could tailor a unique suit of clothes for him from the magnificent cloth they would weave.

The emperor agreed to the frauds’ terms and gave them an extravagant down payment to begin their work. Eager to learn about his outfit’s status, the emperor sent his prime minister to inspect the tailors’ progress. Much to the prime minister’s surprise, he found only empty looms. But he was afraid to reveal his ignorance when the conmen asked for his thoughts about the imaginary fabric’s vivid colors and pattern. The prime minister replied that he was very impressed with their craftsmanship. And then he complied with the tailors’ new demands for more money and gold thread to complete their work.

“Is not the cloth magnificent?" asked two high government officials when the emperor came to view the progress for himself. "See here, the splendid pattern, the glorious colors," they proclaimed. Each pointed to the empty looms. And each thought that the others could see the material. 

"What can this mean?" said the Emperor to himself. "Am I so stupid? Am I not fit to be Emperor? This is disastrous," he thought. But aloud he said, "Oh, the cloth is perfectly wonderful. It has a splendid pattern and such charming colors." And he nodded his approval, smiled appreciatively, and stared at the empty looms.

The day soon came for the emperor’s grand procession — the celebrated occasion when His Majesty would reveal his new suit of clothes. As he walked by, the emperor’s subjects could only gasp at the spectacle. Silence enveloped the room. But no one dared to proclaim the remarkable sight before their eyes. Finally, a little boy pointed at the emperor and stated the obvious:

“Look!” said the youth. “The emperor has nothing on.”

It’s a lesson for every Christ-follower: Real love and truth belong together. And because love cares about people, it also cares about what’s true — which means love requires discernment. Hans Christian Andersen’s nearly 200-year-old tale also says much about our modern society. Its well-intentioned characters followed the politically correct path and told the emperor what he wanted to hear. But it took a naïve child to reveal the naked truth.

Give It a Rest

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

– Matthew 11:29

Climbing the career ladder, beating tight deadlines, and closing the deal are all marks of success in Western society. Millions of Americans even skip or cut short their well-earned vacations because they’re either afraid to fall behind at work or they can’t find time on their busy calendars. A study by jobs and recruitment website Glassdoor reveals that on average, American workers use only 54% of their eligible vacation time. For workers under "use-it-or-lose-it" company policies, this translates to hundreds of millions of completely forfeited days and billions of dollars in lost benefits nationwide.

Jesus had the world’s most important job — saving humanity from its sins — and his routine was often nonstop. In just three years he cured disease, raised the dead, and even calmed a raging storm. So, with such a tight schedule, it would seem like Christ would have little or no time to take a break or even socialize. But Scripture reveals that he indeed enjoyed quality off-time, and often with those who mattered the most to him. Jesus also admonished his busy disciples to give it a rest from time to time:

“Now come along to some quiet place by yourselves, and rest for a little while,” said Jesus, for there were people coming and going incessantly so that they had not even time for meals.

Likewise, Luke’s gospel records the time when Jesus visited the home of his friends Martha and Mary. While Martha busily prepared the food and straightened the house for a gathering, her sister Mary opted to take time out to listen to Christ’s message. Upset with Mary’s attitude, Martha complained to Jesus about the apparent injustice. But instead of scolding her sister, Jesus commended Mary for choosing the most important thing: quality time with him. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to interrupt our non-stop routines to recharge our batteries and forget the everyday grind? The Bible teaches that well-earned rest is part of God’s design. With that in mind, let’s take a break from our daily busyness so we can take time to be with Him. 

Fear Not

Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears.

– 1 John 4:18

It’s said that the admonition Fear Not appears in the Bible 365 times — one for every day of the year. But that assurance doesn’t inoculate Christ-followers from all anxiety and trepidation. For one reason or another, even seasoned Believers might be afraid to say yes to God. 

Why is that? First, we too often think of our Lord as a cosmic consultant, who offers well-intentioned suggestions rather than the all-knowing Creator who made us, loves us, and wants only the best for us. But saying no to God is perhaps the most basic form of sin. And mankind has been doing that since the first pages of Genesis with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Let’s also consider that saying no and playing it safe is a basic human instinct. Fleeing from danger (real or perceived) is logical when we consider our innate desire for self-preservation. Likewise, we might resist God when he calls us to do something that’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. After all, taking that first step can be awkward, difficult — and sometimes scary.

Perhaps selfishness is the primary reason so many of us fear saying yes to God. Agreeing with God often means we’re saying no to us. But when we turn our back on God, we must prepare for spiritual turmoil. God knows what He wants and how He wants to do it. That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised when we find ourselves in a much worse situation after our refusal. As the saying goes, sometimes we must feel the heat before we can see the light.

The good news is that God loved you and me before we loved Him. And since we’re Believers, He’s secured us in Christ. That means we don’t have to let fear govern our relationship with Him … or our relationships with others. 

With this in mind, let’s surrender our anxiety and fears, step out in faith, and serve as His hands and feet in our neighborhoods, the community, and the world. Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light shine like that in the sight of men. Let them see the good things you do and praise your Father in Heaven.”

Identity Theft

See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! The world does not know us, because it did not know him.

– 1 John 3:1

Identity theft is a growing crime involving the illicit use of personally identifiable information — like credit card numbers and Social Security details — for financial or personal gain. A recent annual Javelin Strategy & Research study revealed that criminals stole about $43 billion from U.S. consumers and impacted more than 16 million people. What’s more, over 70% of identity theft victims experienced some form of digital account takeover, including their online banking and social media accounts.

The damage from each incident can take thousands of dollars and several years to repair. But believe it or not, there’s another kind of identity theft that’s much more serious. It’s one that robs its victims of the abundant life they should develop and enjoy as Christ-followers.

How does this happen? Far too many people unknowingly assume a false identity through the negative messages they receive early in life. A common example is a parent telling their child that “they’ll never amount to anything” or that they need to set low expectations for their career or other critical life milestones. Over and over, children hear that they’re “just not smart enough” or “don’t have what it takes to make it.” And repeated early and often enough, these fictions can become self-fulfilling.

How do we take back our rightful identities? It’s a challenge that calls for a spiritual reality check. First, let’s look back at our past and identify and examine the negative messages we received early in life. Then think about who gave us these messages. Can we honestly say that these painful “observations” were true? The real truth is that we all have God-given talents and abilities. And our Creator knows each of us by name!

Whether it’s committed by a cyber-criminal or a sibling, identity theft of any kind is both destructive and debilitating. But here’s the good news: Knowing that we’re children of God gives us a settled identity that frees us from constantly trying to prove ourselves. And with our selfhood revealed, we’re free to love others actively — and approach our real Father with confidence.