“Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven and do not swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives'” (Hosea 4:15).

Does where we worship God matter?

The prophets use the language of adultery and prostitution when referring to Israel and Judah. When the prophets use this language, it doesn’t necessarily mean sexual adultery or prostitution. What God is angry about his idolatry, is when Israel and Judah worships and follows after other gods and nations. Whenever Israel and Judah put their trust in any other gods or nations instead of God, that is adultery and prostitution. To God, Israel chasing after other gods is akin to a spouse cheating. It is spiritual adultery and prostitution.

Not only does the language of adultery and prostitution refer to other gods and nations, but it also refers to worshiping God in a manner and way that God did not prescribe.

God commanded the Israelites to worship him at the Temple in Jerusalem. And then, God gave specific instructions about how God is to be worshiped. When the nation of Israel was divided into two between Israel and Judah, Israel set up her own temple in Bethel, Gilgal, and Beth Aven. This was way more convenient for the people of Israel as it was closer to them than the temple located in Jerusalem, but this was not what God prescribed.

Does where and how you worship God matter? Absolutely. God tells us his people to set apart the Sabbath to make it holy. We are to worship God in the house of God in the manner in which God told us to worship.

Worshiping in the mountains? Nope. The ocean? Nope. Golf Course? Nope.

The only caveat is online worship. There are some of you who cannot get to church. Set aside the time and worship God online. If you are able to get to God’s house of worship, that is best.

When it comes to worship, it’s about location, location, location. Location matters.

See you at the Little Church or Lakewood Grace or online this weekend!

“Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17).

There is a time for discernment. There is a time for prayer. There is a time for seeking greater clarity.

BUT…there comes a time when you don’t need more discernment, more prayer, or greater clarity. What is needed is obedience. If God has already told you what to do, if Jesus is asking you to follow him, you don’t need more clarity, more discernment, or prayer. What’s needed is for you to get your butt in gear and get following.

What are some things that need your obedience? What are some areas in your life where you need to obey?

Stop delaying. God already told you what to do. Get going. Follow him.

“Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17).

When someone invites you to “follow,” the most logical questions are where? why? when? who else is going? what are we going to be doing?

These are legitimate questions. These are important questions. The answers to these questions determine whether I’m coming along or not.

Jesus invites people to “Come, follow me,” at least thirteen times in the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Not one time does Jesus follow up the invitation to “Come, follow me,” with answers to be above questions.

There are several reasons why.
1. There are certain people when they beckon you, you go. It doesn’t matter where, when, who, or what else. If the President of the United States beckons you, you go. If the Son of God beckons you, you go.
2. The journey of faith is about a person more than it is a destination. The life of faith is about a relationship with Jesus. All that we need to know is that it’s Jesus. As long as Jesus is the one calling and leading, it doesn’t matter where, when, and who else is coming along. If it’s Jesus, we go because it’s all about who is the one calling.
3. Finally, even if Jesus were to tell us, we wouldn’t understand. The journey of faith is about taking the next steps.

Before closing, notice there is a two part motion to the invitation to “Come, follow me.”
1. Come – we have to go to Jesus. We go to where he is. That, oftentimes, requires leaving where we are presently. We can’t stay where we are if we want to go to where Jesus is. What is it that you need to leave behind in order to go to where Jesus is?
2. Follow me – we have to keep going wherever Jesus goes. We do what Jesus does. We value what Jesus values. We begin shaping our lives to the pattern of Jesus’ life. What character of Jesus is he asking you to follow today?

Jesus continues to invite followers to “Come, follow me.” This is an on-going, never-ending coming to Christ, and following him.