washed of our sins at baptism and we should
never return to that sinful way of life.
We have to examine ourselves on our own in-
dividual performance; self-examination by
reading the Bible (Gal. 5:19-21). This chapter
is a self-measuring stick. Really it is a tape
measure of our daily behaviour. It will be our
behaviour that pleases God; faith will grant
us, by grace, a place in the Kingdom. However,
if we look back, as Lot’s wife did, then we are
lost for ever, unless we repent.
God sees all that we do. “Then hear thou in
heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and
do, and give to every man according to his
ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou,
even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the
children of men)” (1 Kings 8:39). “… But the
Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).
“I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins,
even to give every man according to his ways
and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jer.
17:10). “… knowest the hearts of all men”
(Acts 1:24). “Also unto thee, O Lord, be-
longeth mercy: for thou renderest to every
man according to his work” (Ps. 62:12).
“Search me and know my heart; and see if
there be any wicked way in me and lead me
in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).
There is much more on the individual basis,
the way we can examine
ourselves and how we
should know that we are
being watched. Each one of
us is on daily test whether
we do good or not. We have
to check for ourselves by
reading the word of God our
‘tape measure’ and wherein
we fail, we must repent and
pray for forgiveness.
Breaking bread and drinking
wine is both an individual
and a collective act of wor-
ship.“Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together
in unity” (Ps. 133:1). “And
21
We make a living
by what we get;
we make a life
by what we give
Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I
pray thee, between me and thee, and be-
tween my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we
be brethren” (Gen. 13:8). Our unity is also a
way of worship. We should never quarrel, be-
cause we are brothers and sisters in Christ. If
we avoid quarrelling then we are worshipping
God. Abraham avoided quarrelling because he
and Lot were brothers. “Let brotherly love
continue” (Heb. 13:1).
Collectively - Jesus and the disciples were
together and ate and drank wine together (Mt.
26:26-30). And wherever possible, when we
gather together, we should do this (1 Cor.
11:23-26). By being together and breaking
bread we preach the Gospel until he comes
and thereby are worshipping. We should also
examine ourselves (1 Cor. 11:28). Wherever
we are we should observe all things whatso-
ever he commanded us (Mt. 28:20). We should
be separate from worldly activities and let
God alone sanctify us, for his word is the truth
(Jn. 17:17).
Our daily way of life and behaviour will show
the world that we worship God. The thing is
that God sees the heart, there is nothing
hidden from him. The way we think and our
personal conviction determine our faith. This
is a duty that all men should perform, it is
what God requires of us (Eccl. 12:13).
Worship ...continued
Winston Churchill