July 20 Worship

Luke 2:21-24 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. 22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 
 
HERE is this simple, poor couple with very little to their name but they managed to buy some pigeons for Mary’s purification and Jesus’ dedication. They do these two rituals because God commands the Jews to do so when a child is born. Joseph and Mary follow the first rule of life: Know God’s Word and obey it.
     Quiet and obedient, Joseph and Mary demonstrated they lived under God’s law for God’s sake. They do not point to themselves to say, “Look at us. We are parents of the Messiah!” This chosen couple went that day holding in their arms the One who would nullify the sacrificial law by becoming the final atoning sacrifice for you. Think of it. Mary and Joseph obeyed God’s Word as they held the Living Word of God.
     This is worship. God’s knowledge has poured into this couple, and they obediently, lovingly responded. Do you feel their worshipful wonder and awe of a God who has shown himself to them in this personal way? Can you know the joy in Joseph’s and Mary’s hearts? Are you thankful with them that God has delivered a son to them? Are you with this couple in humility that they are taking God’s Son to God’s House? Do you tremble with them at the miracle of being the ones chosen for this great task? Could you even be afraid with them that they may make a mistake?  
     God has clearly commanded to you what you must do. Jesus said it this way, in John 15:12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” What is your response?
 
Prayer: Lord God, my heart rejoices in your commands. I pray for loving obedience. In Jesus’ name, amen