SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:

Nehemiah 5-6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

Scripture-My special verse today:

Luke 24: 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Observation:

Jesus has now risen from the grave that Joseph of Arimathea had Jesus placed.  Jesus appeared to the men on the road to Emmaus and given the Great Commission to the disciples.  But, as Luke closes his letter to the Gentiles we find the ascension of Jesus.  Jesus leads his disciples to Bethany and simply lifts up his hands to heaven and blesses them.  He is immediately taken up to heaven.  All they can do is be in awe in their worship and return as ordered to Jerusalem n great spirits.  Luke ends by saying the disciples spent all their time in the temple praising God.

Application:

The disciples spent all this time with Jesus but they end up in the temple praising God after He ascended to heaven.  So many today or may I say only 20% even bother to attend attend worship services in America.  We are supposed to be a Christian nation under God.  What is so bad about worshiping in the temple?  Well, Sundays are bad days to come to church because we are busy with other activities.  If we do not have time for God  do you not think it is pompous to think He makes time for you.  One of the ten commandments is HONOR THE SABBATH.  They went back to Jerusalem and praised God after experiencing this special moment.  Do are times of being with the God cause us to worship in our churches?

Prayer:

May I always believe in the power to worship!