SAD NEWS
Today’s reading: 2 Kings 16-20

I’ve figured it out. I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately, and I’ve finally come to an understanding of the problem--and quite possibly a solution.

What’s caused the downfall of our culture, the dysfunctionality of our families and the darkness of evil to fall over our land, our churches and our homes? I’m glad you asked…

“The people whom you have resettled in the towns of Israel do not know how to worship the God of the land…” 2 Kings 17:26 NLT

Oh, I’m sure you disagree on some level to what I’ve quoted. You’ll want to argue that each and everyone of us knows ’how’ to worship, you’ll point to an innate predisposition to lift our hands to our Creator or that God-shaped hole that is in us all. You’ll even bring up Scripture that states our purpose in life is to worship the Sovereign Lord.

So I’ll state my case as mildly as I can: If we know how, if it’s in us to do it, if worship is what we’ve been made for--could it just be that we’re choosing not to? Or would you rather see in print that we’re not valuing the privilege of worship to the degree that we deem it necessary to pass on to our children?

Personally, I do believe it’s a matter of not knowing how. Not knowing how to put aside all others and worship the One. Not knowing how to push aside self-admiration to admit our powerlessness and His majesty. Not knowing how to throw aside burdens, sins and appearance issues to be able to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

I’ll stand on my final answer, we’re a culture that just doesn’t know how to worship--and what’s even sadder…we don’t care to learn.