Daily Devotional: Monday, September 2 – Worship Worthy

“The lads of Nineveh will rise up on the judgment with this era and condemn it; for they repented on the preaching of Jonah, and now one thing better than Jonah is right here. The Queen of the South will rise on the judgment with this era and condemn it; for she got here from the ends of the earth to hearken to Solomon’s knowledge, and now one thing better than Solomon is right here.” — Matthew 12:41-42

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Ronald Acuna Jr. is without doubt one of the few baseball gamers who possesses Olympic-type velocity and Hank Aaron-type energy. In 2023, he was the unanimous alternative for Nationwide League Most Beneficial Participant. His statistics had been eye popping: He performed in 159 out of 162 video games, hit 41 residence runs and stole 73 bases. He collected 217 hits with a .337 batting common and scored 149 runs. It was probably the most productive seasons for a person in baseball historical past.

Nonetheless, in 2024, Ronald was reminded of his limitations when he tore one other anterior cruciate ligament in his knee (after tearing the opposite knee in 2021).

It’s OK to admire star athletes and cheer them on, however we should be cautious to not make them gods. Even one of the best amongst us have limitations and weaknesses. The Bible offers many examples of flawed women and men, reminds us usually to keep away from worshipping individuals, and tells us to always remember that Christ is the one One who lived an ideal life.

Abraham lived way back and we glance as much as him as a result of he obediently left his homeland to comply with God, receiving a promise that coated the generations after him. However even Jesus existed lengthy earlier than Abraham was born. In reality, Jesus has at all times existed. “‘Very really I inform you,’ Jesus answered, ‘earlier than Abraham was born, I’m!’” (John 8:58).

Jesus spoke in regards to the numerous Previous Testomony prophets serving the Lord with braveness, and God modified many lives for the higher by way of their ministry. Lots of the prophets gave a preview of Christ lengthy earlier than He got here to earth. For instance, Jonah was within the stomach of the whale for 3 days after which got here out alive on the shore, very like Christ walked out of the tomb alive after his loss of life. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights within the stomach of an enormous fish, so the Son of Man shall be three days and three nights within the coronary heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Jesus went on to say that “they repented on the preaching of Jonah, and now one thing better than Jonah is right here” (v. 41).

Then Jesus spoke about being better than King Solomon. In his day, Solomon was by far the wisest and wealthiest man alive. Folks got here from distant to go to him and see his greatness. In so doing, a overseas queen turned a believer within the true God after listening to Solomon communicate. In so many phrases, Jesus would say it was unhappy that individuals select to reject Christ when he’s even better than Solomon and solely needs to bless us. “The Queen of the South will rise on the judgment with this era and condemn it; for she got here from the ends of the earth to hearken to Solomon’s knowledge, and now one thing better than Solomon is right here” (v. 42).

Respecting and admiring others for his or her greatness is pure, and could be wholesome inside parameters. However solely One is worthy of our worship, so watch out to not let your admiration of others flip to something greater than that.

— Invoice Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

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