Worshipers are Lazy?

Pharaoh accused the Hebrews of using worship as an excuse to get out of work (Exodus 5).  Twice in the chapter he calls them lazy.  That made me think about today how people will use a variety of excuses to get out of worship.  I guess that would make Pharaoh happy.  But then I got to thinking: should worship be easy...something a lazy person can do?  I don't think so.  But it shouldn't be work either.  It should be refreshing like water to the panting deer (Ps. 42:1).  But those who treat it lazily end up weak, sick, and eventually dead (I Cor. 11:30).  God's word is amazing as it can fill our minds with challenging thoughts and questions.

Onomatopoeia - What sounds are your words making

Exodus 16:2 "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:"
 
The word "murmur" both in English and in Greek (not sure about Hebrew) is an onomatopoeia.  Can you imagine the sound of 2 million people murmuring?  Its difficult for us to imagine how annoying Moses must have felt dealing with the constant complaining of so many people.  
 
Rather than murmur about what we don't have or the actions of whoever is in charge, we need to focus more on contentment and patience - and using our mouths to say things befitting such attitudes. .

Independence Day

Jesus told a crowd in John 8 that "If you continue in My word then you will be my disciples; and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."  I imagine that many Americans would respond the same way that the Jews did on that occasion: "We...have never been enslaved to anyone...How is it you say 'You will become free?'"  We cherish our political freedom not really comprehending how sin enslaves us.  And so Jesus' response is still valid today: "Truly I say to you who ever commits sin is the slave to sin."  The best, and most important, freedom is freedom from sin; it can only be realized through Jesus - the one who possesses the truth that sets us free.