WE SHALL NOT DIE - Reading With the People of God #17নমুনা

Thanks Be To God

It could be easy to take for granted, but I love when our church responds, “Thanks be to God” after scripture is read. I also love the idea of standing during the reading of Scripture; in these 2 actions, our bodies and mouths give attention to the privilege of God’s Word. Of course, any posture is acceptable for reading the Bible, but there is something special, reverent, about standing in honor, and verbally acknowledging the blessing of hearing what His words say to us in that moment.

Tradition has been controversial for ages. We will read in Isaiah about tradition used to force details, minutiae, and hypocritical expectations from leaders who are arrogant and show a sense of prejudice for those who do not practice faith in the same way. God is displeased with such actions, especially in His name. He calls these leaders out; leaders who were expected to guide others in relationship to Him. When tradition overshadows authenticity, God continues to remind His people that He must reprimand them. In full disclosure of His ultimate plan for deliverance, verses 16 and 17 share the beautiful realization of the fulfillment of Christ! Upon Jesus as the Cornerstone, every doctrine, tradition, and practice of relating to the Sovereign God rests. We can only have fellowship with Him on His terms.

Now, this is not the first time we have read about God needing to discipline His people, and we read again in Acts 15 that the traditional expectations are once again out of place. Jewish leaders (who follow Christ), having a special affection for the law, and its tradition, expected the recent Gentile believers to follow that too. For them, it holds meaning and brings the prophetic word of their ancestors to the acknowledgment of Christ as Messiah. However, the Gentile believers had their own history and ceremonies, many of which they denied in order to honor the truth of Christ. Their view of tradition could very well weigh them down in their excitement and zeal for the gospel.

For those of us who have held a foot in the realm of liturgy and the other foot in a freedom of independent worship, much can be said for both. The splendor of ceremony provides an opportunity for the “special”. Yet, the comfort of a lack of ceremony can breed an intimacy which might otherwise be stifled by tradition. We should balance the enlightenment of those who lack tradition with the comfort of those who hold up tradition. Both are important when the heart for God is the central point. It was far more important to share the Word of God, and the heart of a relationship with Him, before adding the peripheral.

Is there a fresh and enlightened idea that you have gleaned from God’s word?

Is there a tradition that you realize has a deep and meaningful connection to God?

Primer contributed by Gaylyn Mott, Christ follower, musician, teacher, yarn artist, member of Cornerstone Community Church of Chowchilla