This post was sent to me by my friend Kent. He is commenting on my "What Is Worship" blog.

This is what God has done to re-establish worship!

Romans 8:3-4: "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

To observe that "God has done" is to understand that God moves in history and He is active.  He uses participants to accomplish his will.  He himself participates in history and he was willing to give up His son to get involved with us and for us.  Christ  left privilege and power behind to become like us, and then offer himself as an example and an atonement.  He entered "our" system.  

We have a term called, "rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty".  A crude term but  it illustrates the point that God was willing to enter "our system", and get down to where we are in a way that truly demonstrated a commitment and a desire to work things out.  He truly participated in or adopted a "likeness of sinful flesh". If you really want to play with your child then you get way down on the floor and look them in the eye.  To truly relate and be understood you get to the level they are living in and playing on.  

Our misuse of his systems, (the garden etc.), the systems decay (creation etc.), and others interested in destroying what God intended, called for an adjustment on Gods part that establishes new systems of worship where we can again enjoy what we had in the beginning. WE could not re-establish a relationship as in our sin we are "condemned".  Gods salvation meets all "just requirements" in order to establish our new walk/relationship/worship.  Both the OT and NT systems were described, delivered,  (and in a very real sense), demonstrated in a very personal and intimate way.  God  got  down on our level and communicated in terms we  understood.  God fully and lovingly  demonstrated who he was, and what was expected from us in return.  All His systems are hand crafted to benefit those who participate according to the systems inherent intent, and, the "do's and don'ts" are intentional and for our own good.  This very personal, "get down to where we are" or "down to the floor" is what makes Gods request for obedience and worship a fair and reasonable one.  God has come more than half way and the give-and-take of relationships  demand that we be obedient and choose to participate, .....or not!  After all that God has done, and considering the help he has provided, we are expected to walk "according to the Spirit."

K52