July 8 - The One Place of Worship

July 8 - The One Place of Worship
Deuteronomy 12:1-14

Looking for a new church is one thing that torments people.  They search and search for a place where they will feel comfortable and loved, where they will be able to encounter new relationships and friends, where they might fit in and discover new ways to be involved in something bigger than themselves and most of all, whether they say so or not, they want to hear God’s word delivered in a way that makes sense to them and inspires them to respond.

This passage in Deuteronomy told the Israelites that there would be one place to worship.  Now, while that would be a whole lot easier for us today, it was actually kind of a big deal for them also.  In the land they were preparing to enter, there were already many established religions, none of which God wanted His people to serve.

He said, “You must not worship the Lord your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put His Name there for his dwelling.  To that place you must go.” (Deut. 12:4-5)

Further on, he says, “You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the Lord your God is giving you. But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name – there you are to bring everything I command you …” (Deut. 12:8-11)

Finally, after you have arrived at the place, Moses said, you are to rejoice before the Lord your God.

Finding a home in which to worship can be a trial, but you know what?  The Lord has promised the Israelites that they will have one place to worship.  He was going to create it for them.  He wanted them to be in His presence.

Today we have a lot of different options and honestly, not all of them are blessed by God, but He will draw us to Himself and He will find us the one place of worship that can make that relationship strong.