Another Ascension Moment

⁵⁰ Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. ⁵² So they worshipped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. ⁵³ And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God." - Luke 24:50-53

We usually focus our Ascension Day messages around Acts 1:1-11 and there is nothing wrong with this. However, Luke also mentions the Ascension of Jesus in his Gospel and it is an interesting take on this glorious moment. 

The significance of Jesus going back to his father is complex and equally crucial for the Church to understand. But just for today I want us to pause on this truth - one of the last things that Jesus did before he left the earth was BLESS his followers. It was while he was blessing them that he was taken into heaven. 

This is such a powerful image for us to hold onto. Jesus' ascension was not the father "ripping" Jesus away from a timid group of people, but rather a planned moment of implying great trust in the disciples. A moment where God willingly hands over the mantle to us.

May we know Christ's blessing upon our lives as we serve the risen, ascended Lord.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Playing at Religion

 

“Why doesn’t one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don’t want any more of this so-called worship!" - Malachi 1:10 (Message)

Wow, God is really upset by the attitude of his people. He doesn't even mince his words either! Read through these responses and feel yourself melting into the naughty corner!

• "Shut the Temple doors."
• "Lock them."
• "Playing at religion"
• "Silly, empty-headed worship"
• "I am not pleased."
• "So-called worship."

Each one of these valid responses is an expression of how God feels when we just "go through the motions" of worship. There is no point in playing at Religion, because we can't deceive God at all. 

I am challenged this Advent season to make my own worship more REAL, MEANINGFUL, and HONEST. I hope you will join me as we all seek to welcome the Christ-child into our hearts. 

Living in Grace
D3LM3