Reading With the People of God #13 Nicene CreedSample

Focus of the month:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Faithfulness and True Worship

In 2 Kings 17:7-23, Israel’s downfall is marked by a rejection of God’s faithfulness. They turn to idolatry, abandoning the covenant and worshiping other gods. Despite God’s warnings and patience, their disobedience leads to exile, highlighting the consequences of forsaking the one true God.

In Matthew 21:1-17, we see the true King enter Jerusalem, not in military power, but humbly, riding on a donkey. The crowds celebrate His arrival, but their worship is misguided—Jesus cleanses the temple, driving out those who have turned it into a marketplace. True worship, Jesus shows, is a heart that honors God in spirit and truth, not through empty rituals or corrupt practices.

The Nicene Creed affirms that Jesus is the eternal Son of God, who came to reconcile us to the Father. As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded that true worship is a response to God’s faithfulness. Are we like Israel, choosing other things over Him, or are we like the faithful who recognize Jesus as the King, coming to us humbly and worthy of our devotion? True faith leads to worship that honors God, not for what we get, but for who He is.