Avoid vain worship

·         The Eighth Day

In accordance to Jewish law and tradition the eight day is associated with a time of cleansing, dedication, circumcision and a time to offer the Lord an offering. The Eighth Day which follows the Feast of Tabernacles fulfills all the spiritual aspects of the Eighth Day. It is the day the Lord was dedicated, circumcised, and cleansed the guilt of every nation and joined them with the commonwealth of Israel as we have been duly admonished saying; “And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21).

One should also take into consideration the power that is associated with the name that was given to Him on the eight day of His birth which states; “Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” ( Philippians 2:9-11).

That day also represents the day on which Gentiles who were considered as strangers and foreigners to the commonwealth of Israel were brought to God as we have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh --- who are called Un-circumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands ---that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:11-13).

Remember, circumcision is the sign of the everlasting covenant that God made with Abraham when God said to him: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:9-13).

The middle wall of division between the Jews and the Gentiles was broken down by the blood of circumcision of Jesus Christ as we have been duly admonished saying; “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace” (Ephesians 2:14-15).

And through the blood of the cross Jesus Christ reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:16-19).

So essentially, what it means to worship God in spirit, it is by not making for oneself a carved image, or the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, we are not to bow down to them nor serve them; And, having the right intent and purpose for observing what we are observing in honor of God.

The crux of the matter is, no one should be forced, coerced or intimidated to worship the Lord, this is something one has to do of his/her own volition, for we have been duly admonished saying: “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:5-6).

It is imperative however to note that, “the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24).

Therefore, even though no imposition is placed on anyone to observe the days the Lord has instituted to be observed in His honor. The Lord is however seeking for the true worshipers to worship Him and since the Lord describes Himself as a jealous God don’t we think that, by disregarding or blatantly rejecting the days which the Lord has ordained to honor Him as Lord and instead placing so much attention to the days and occasions instituted by man and even our own personal celebrations, are we not provoking the Lord to jealousy?

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph