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Freedom Of Worship
Richard WaialealeHebrews 9:1 (NLT)
1 That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth.
Hebrews 9:8 (NLT)
8 By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use.
I can’t imagine back in the days of the O.T. how difficult it was to worship God. Today we have such a freedom to worship, I can’t help but take this freedom of worshipping for granted.
Senator John McCain tells the story of being a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Senator McCain said the prison was called the Hanoi Hilton. There were about 30-40 men incarcerated. Senator McCain talked about a gentleman named Mike Christian who had taken thread from different garments ( red, white and blue) and created this needle made from bamboo.
He sewed an American Flag into the inside of the prisoners Garb they were forced to wear.
At the end of each day, after they’ve been beaten up and tortured – it was a regular routine.
But after each day, he would take his shirt off at night before they would go to sleep with the American Flag on the inside he would hang it on a nail.
And all the men would hold their hands over their heart and pledge a elegance to the flag of the U.S of America.
It’s one thing to do that over here, but when you’re a prisoner of war in a camp, tortured, hungry, and beaten up.
John McCain said, he didn’t just wear the colors (Red, White and Blue). He was the colors.
When I heard that I couldn’t help but think about how I worship.
In John 9:31 it says, If any man or woman, be a worshipper of God, and does His will, God will hear.
There’s a difference of Going To Worship & Being A Worshiper.
We don’t just come to church to worship, we come to church to be worship.
Worship isn’t something I do. This is who I am.
Father thank you for the freedom of Worshipping You. Thank you for the life examples like Mike Christian who never take worship for granted. The freedom to Worship You is something that we have. This is who we are. Amen.
