Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Luke 23-24
Luke 24:53
And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
The last verse of the Gospel of Luke sets the tone for the “church age.” Three words seem to sum up that in which believers should be engaged. Remember, at this point in Luke’s gospel, Christ has lived, ministered, preached, taught, trained, was arrested, was examined by the priests, scourged, crucified, buried and resurrected. His followers knew all this. They also saw Him carried up into heaven. The result: they worshipped Him (Luke 24:52). Upon returning to Jerusalem, they with great joy continued to worship Him in the temple. Not with the rites and rituals of temple worship, but in a new and living way.
Consider three words that are like guiding rays of light to guide us today.
One: Continually. They continually gathered in the place where they worshipped Him. That place was the building called the temple. Today we gather in church buildings. The church though is really the individuals coming together to continually worship Him; that body of believers constituted together for the purpose of worship and carrying on His continued work. After all, the first and second verse of Acts indicate clearly that …Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up… Those believers who follow Him today continue that which He began. The writer of Hebrews admonishes all those who follow Him in this: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25) Gathering together continually is an identifying mark of His true believers.
Two: Praising. Singing the songs, hymns, and spiritual songs used in church is only one way to praise Him. There are others. Individuals can praise Him because of that which the preacher is preaching. Every “amen” is a word of praise, adoration, and agreement with that which is preached. Each secret, private, silent prayer from those in the pew is a way of personal praise and worship to God. Every person who spends time at the altar in response to what they heard preached or taught from the Bible is an act of praise. Even asking for help, forgiveness, strength, or leadership at the altar is praise if approached properly. Meaning the person praying understands and acknowledges God’s power to answer their petitions to the point of praising Him for His divine graces.
Three: Blessing. Of this duty, the writer of Hebrews also gives insight. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. (Hebrews 7:7). He is writing about the interaction between Melchisedec and Abraham. How that Melchisedec, the better, blessed Abraham the lesser. This physical story paints a spiritual picture. God is the better, we are the lesser. God blesses us with all spiritual and physical blessings. In return, we can bless Him. How? One way is that we continually meet with others to praise Him. We bless Him by our very attendance in church. We present ourselves to Him corporately; we give our tithes and offerings to Him, we praise Him with songs, prayers, and clean lives, we learn of His Word, His way and His works, and keep them in everyday life. All of this is done out of a free will and deep abiding love for His wonderful blessings to us. We bless Him knowing that we can never out bless Him, for of a truth without fear of any contradiction, the less is always blessed of the better. If any person desires to be better, become a blesser.
These three words, continually, praise, and blessing help guide His believers through whatever may come. For they are wholesome words, key words, guiding words, and faithful words that are always acceptable no matter the place, time or setting. With these Luke ends his gospel account. May we begin wherein he ends.
Dr. William T. Howe
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