…fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess… Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. (Hebrews 3:1, 3, NIV)
The natives gather in droves, all going to the enormous temple. People have traveled for days to worship. Faces and bodies painted, indigenous clothes reveal the two tribal colors that distinctly honor their god. Less-than-privileged worshipers who can’t afford the trip still wear the tribal colors and worship from a distance—as video footage brings the target of their allegiance right into their homes! Do you wonder what this worship is all about? Here are some hints: The ornate temple cost upwards of $1.3 billion and the team colors are blue and white. A well-known astrological feature makes up the adored icon.
Even within Christian circles, natives will uphold their leader as far greater than Christ. Natives will quote their favorite pastor more than they quote Scripture. Followers will read books about Scripture, written by their favorite authors, more than they read Scripture itself. Many make great effort to take pilgrimages to see their favorite pastor in person and even shake hands with him!
Humans are made to worship. We will worship something created, whether it is team, person, a thing, or even ourselves. In my 38 years of life, I have definitely been guilty of worshiping sports, myself, and even pastors. And yes, I was once rebuked by a good friend for quoting one of my favorite pastors more than I quoted the Bible!
This past weekend I served as a small group leader for Webb Simpson’s Youth for Christ Challenge in Pinehurst, where 82 high school golfers came for a weekend of golf and fellowship. Webb’s words and actions from the weekend revealed his heart for reaching out to young men with the life-changing message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Webb understands the platform that golf has given him, and he desires not be worshipped but to point people tempted to worship him to the only one who is worthy of worship. The author of Hebrews wrote, “The builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.” If Webb’s life were a house, many of us would compliment his strong foundation and solid structure…but the one who built the house has greater honor.
As worshipers, we will fix our eyes on something. The author of Hebrews encourages us to fix our thoughts—emotions, dreams, desires, hopes and determination—on Jesus. When we do this, the sin that so easily entangles us falls to the wayside as we worship the only one who is worthy of praise. Jesus is greater than Moses, greater than angels, greater than all the prophets, greater than football teams, greater than our favorite pastors, greater than the players we idolize who use fancy sticks to hit white balls. Jesus is far, far greater!
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Korky Kemp
November 27, 2012
Copyright 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.