Give to the Lord the things which are the Lord's

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. -- Matthew 4:10

That old serpent, the devil, came to tempt Jesus in three distinct ways after the Spirit led Him into the wilderness. Satan devised crafty scenarios to entice Jesus with the appetite, the sin of presumption by tempting God to prove His protection, and with worship. Nevertheless, Christ stood firm and responded with "It is written...".

Revelation 4:11 reminds us that God alone is worthy to receive worship. “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

This alone should be the practice of the believer to worship the Lord God our Creator. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth -- John 4:24. Worship is profound adoration and reverence. It means showing affection and courting favor. Whatever you do, even something as simple as eating or drinking, do it in a way that honors God.

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: --Revelation14: 9, 10 (KJV)

If any man worships the beast and his false system, the same shall receive the seven last plagues and drink the wrath of God which will not be quenched. We must be what is required of us to be ready. Let us make ready our preparations now. Buckle down in the word of God, and with fasting and prayer, make our election sure.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrew 11:6 (KJV)

Everything we do must please God, and He will impute His favor upon us and reward us accordingly. The LORD will make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious to thee. Give unto the Lord the worship that is due to His name, for He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power, and daily He loads us with benefits.

Worshiping God our Creator connects directly to country living and end-time spiritual preparation. It teaches us to depend upon Him rather than upon the world. In the quiet of country life, surrounded by His creation, we can learn simplicity, faith, obedience, self-denial, and greater dependence upon God for our daily needs. Yet country living alone cannot prepare us for the final crisis; our hearts must soften and align with His will. This involves surrendering our desires daily, cultivating humility, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions.

A prepared heart discerns truth from deception, resists temptation, and responds to God’s guidance with obedience and love. Consistent meditation on Scripture, prayerful reflection, and daily refusal of sin strengthen our hearts, keeping us steadfast and ready to honor God in every circumstance. Prepared through diligent prayer, study of God’s Word, obedience to His truth, and unwavering faith in Him. As we “worship Him that made heaven, and earth” (Revelation 14:7, KJV), we are learning now to trust and remain faithful to our Creator so that we may stand firm when the final test of worship comes.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)