Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
1 Corinthians 10:30-31
10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Acts of the Apostles 317.1
The apostle’s words of warning to the Corinthian church are applicable to all time and are especially adapted to our day. By idolatry he meant not only the worship of idols, but self-serving, love of ease, the gratification of appetite and passion. A mere profession of faith in Christ, a boastful knowledge of the truth, does not make a man a Christian. A religion that seeks only to gratify the eye, the ear, and the taste, or that sanctions self-indulgence, is not the religion of Christ. {AA 317.1}
This is the sad state of many professed Christians. They are only Christians in name and not in character. They go to church and praise the name of Jesus Christ, yet also curse and swear and run to their idols as soon as their church service is over. They are ignorant, naïve, or just plain heathens that cannot and do not want to give up their idols and sinful ways. Their lives’ do not exemplify the life of Christ and know not or care not that with every sin Jesus is wounded afresh. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit falls upon them that they may see their sinful ways and totally surrender their entire life to Jesus, according to the law and to the testimony. That the true light of Christ Jesus reflects His character from their outer and inner beings so they may truly be called a Christian.
Our Father, God almighty,
We come to You on this Your Holy Day in thanksgiving, prayer, and praise. We are sinners and humbly repent of our sins and ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We pray that you may anoint our eyes with heavenly eye salve, that we may see the errors in our ways. We pray that everything we say and do and eat and that our hands touch may be for the glory of Your name. Save us and bless us, dear Father. Increase our faith that we may let go of any idols and any sin that we are holding on to. May we become true Christians, not only by name, but in character, Your character. We thank You and praise You and may all the Glory be to You dear Father. In the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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