How can we ensure our worship is pleasing to God, as described in Ezekiel? Setting the Scene - Ezekiel 43 describes God’s glory returning to a purified temple. - After seven days of consecration, a new beginning dawns on “the eighth day.” - God promises, “I will accept you” (Ezekiel 43:27), linking purified sacrifice with relational acceptance. Key Verse (Ezekiel 43:27) “When the days are completed, on the eighth day and from then on, the priests shall present your burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you,” declares the Lord GOD. What Made Worship Acceptable in Ezekiel’s Vision? - Purified Altar: seven days of atoning blood (vv. 20-26) showed sin dealt with. - Faultless Offerings: “without defect” (v. 25) mirrored God’s holiness. - God-Given Pattern: every measurement (ch. 40-42) came from God, not human invention. - Ongoing Commitment: “from then on” (v. 27) signals lasting obedience, not a one-time act. Principles for Today - Cleansing first, worship second • Hebrews 10:19-22—enter “by the blood of Jesus… with a sincere heart.” - Whole-hearted surrender • Romans 12:1—“present your bodies as a living sacrifice… your spiritual worship.” - Truth-shaped practice • John 4:23-24—worship “in spirit and in truth,” aligning with God’s revealed pattern. - Moral integrity • Psalm 24:3-4—clean hands and pure heart ascend God’s hill. - Christ as the flawless offering • 1 Peter 2:5—believers are “to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Practical Ways to Respond - Examine: regularly confess sin, trusting 1 John 1:9 for cleansing. - Align: weigh every song, prayer, and ritual against Scripture’s priorities. - Offer: bring God the best—time, talent, treasure—rather than leftovers. - Persist: make worship a lifestyle, not a weekend event (Colossians 3:17). - Gather: join with God’s people; corporate obedience was central in Ezekiel’s temple. - Expect: worship grounded in Christ assures God’s acceptance (Ephesians 1:6). Encouraging Outcome When worship starts with cleansing through Christ, follows God’s revealed pattern, and flows from wholehearted devotion, we echo Ezekiel’s eighth-day promise: “I will accept you.” |
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