Thurs., 1/24/13 Devotion (Acts 24:14)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 24:14, which says finds Paul saying this:

"But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets." (ESV)

This is a pretty bold statement made by a former super-strict phari-see, regarding the comprehensive primacy of the New Covenant church's worship and life. Whatever Paul still performed--in reference to the old temple and the old forms--it was done, not out of the vitals of true worship, but as a civil nod to a passe, eclipsed system. He viewed NT worship as the genuine fulfillment of the law and the pro-phets.

May we do the same as Paul; and have his attitude. To lose God's wor-ship, is to lose our souls.

[Puritan quote of the day: "[God] calls upon us from time to time in HIs Word. He is calling us by His written Word and by His preached Word from Sabbath to Sabbath." --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "It is Well for us that God is Not as we are"]