In today's world we are constantly encouraged to question established ways of doing things, and suggest more efficient methods for achieving the same outcome. But whilst this is the world's way, the same attitude is unacceptable when we come to worship God.
Consider David's transportation of the Ark of God in today's first reading (2 Sam 6). We cannot fault David's zeal and his sincerity in wanting to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, but what a shame that his judgment was clouded and the Ark was placed on a cart when it should have been carried by the Levites (Num 7:9). Perhaps David remembered that the Philistines did exactly the same, and were not punished for it (1 Sam 6). But the Philistines were ignorant of the ways of the God of Israel. His own people should have known better.
In our New Testament reading (Matt 22) we have another unfortunate situation. Here we see the man who entered into the wedding without the proper wedding garment. How did he get in? We don't know, but it certainly wasn't in the right way. He was promptly cast out of the wedding celebration.
What is the lesson for us from both of these examples? Surely it is this: we must do things God's way, not ours. In a world where men and women try to bring God down to a human level, and worship him however they like, we must not to do the same. God has said:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways..." (Isa 55:8).
So rather than bring God to our level, let us elevate ourselves through the reading of his Word, and come to our Father in the only way he has appointed; through his son, Jesus Christ:
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 3:11)
No comments:
Post a Comment