We can practice the breaking of bread, participate in being water baptized, and join prayer and bible study groups.  We can attend Sunday services in churches and enjoy the singing of hymns and songs and talk about Jesus with great emotion.  These are all part of the Christian’s life, but they are also all forms of outward worship, which anyone can do.  We can be a believer in Christ yet still be as far away from Him as the heathen.

With the season upon us which is the celebration of all celebrations for many Christian believers, it is a good time for us to each look into our hearts and see if the words in the passage below speak to us?  

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

It is an easy thing for us to appear godly and even deceive ourselves, make no mistake about this!  Two things we do that will send us off into a false (Christian) reality:  when we regard our emotions as the Holy Spirit moving in us and when we major our faith upon how much God loves us.  In truth: Our life with the Lord is described in the first commandment; Matt 22:36-38 and our faith in Him comes by hearing the Word; Rom 10:17.  

God has told us that He is not looking for outward worship;

But 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.

He sees our heart if it is made new. Only the heart that has been born again can worship the Lord as He requires. The old testament refers to our hearts being circumcised. In other words, our lives having nothing to do with the world, or what the time of year or particular celebration is upon us. What matters is does our outward observances reflect a heart that worships the Lord in Spirit and in Truth? I can speak for myself in saying I NEVER considered what Jesus meant when He explained this kind of worship, not until I got serious with my walk with the Lord. I see many who were like I was, and do not even realize anything is wrong and so is the need to look into our heart to see what is true using the mirror of the Word.

The children of Israel spared no expanse when they molded the sacred gold calf. They were worshiping the God of Moses after all! Careful saint of God, in what we deem objects or occasions for our worship! See Exodus 32 for full account.

There is nothing more fulfilling than gathering together in the name of Jesus to celebrate Him!  He deserves our praise and worship and may it be in Spirit and in truth. Yes and Amen!