*RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

Sunday, December 18th .

Pastor Chris

*We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect (Hebrews 12:28 CEV).*

One of the greatest honours that we have as God’s children is the privilege to worship Him. Our worship of the Lord is so sacrosanct; it’s not something you do halfheartedly and irreverently. Some people could be in an environment of worship and be distracted by several things. Some could even be using their phones or exchanging pleasantries while worship is going on. That’s irreverent.

The Lord deserves and demands true worship. True worship is from the heart, offered without distractions. And true worshippers are the ones who have known the Father. Recall the conversation between the Master and the lady from Samaria in *John 4*. In verse 20, the woman said, *“Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”*

The Lord responded, saying, *“…Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:21-22)*. Observe that Jesus didn’t say the Samaritans weren't worshipping at all; rather, He said they didn't know whom they were worshipping.

Then He said, *“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23)*. So, there’re true worshippers! When you learn to worship God truly from your heart, it’ll build your life and bring you tremendous blessings.

Take your times of worship seriously, especially worship in praise to God in the church. We worship God in our service to Him, in the things we do for Him; we worship Him in prayer as part of worship, but we also worship Him in praise and that's the most important of them all. Always maintain not just an attitude, but a life of reverence, where you give true worship to the Lord.

*PRAYER*

*Dear Father, yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the majesty and the splendour; you’re gracious, holy, righteous, pure and kind; you alone are God! You’re exalted as head over all, and I thank you, in holiness and truth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *Philippians 3:3 NIV*

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

*Revelation 4:10-11*

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan* Revelation 10 & Micah 1-3

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan* Revelation 15:1-8 & Habakkuk 3