Matthew 15:9-10 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (emphasis added, KJV).
Jesus is quoting Isaiah 20:13 as He was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, who were very meticulous about keeping the law and the traditions of the elders. However, their hearts were far from God, and their traditions became more meaningful than an actual relationship with God. Even to the point where their traditions were more important than the Law. If their concern was for what was in God’s heart, they would have been more concerned about what God actually said in the Law and the Prophets. Instead, they wanted to dictate what He said by their own traditions. Jesus said that the Father seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. Moreover He said that, “God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). If our worship is going to be true worship, our heart has to be in it, and it must be based upon His truth! But lets take this beyond the traditions of the Pharisees.
How often do we sing praises out of tradition instead of what is in our heart? Have you ever been in a praise service singing unto the Lord, but your mind was elsewhere? You know, you sing the words to be sure, but your mind is on your circumstances, or maybe something a little less severe, such as what will you have for lunch after church. Where is your focus? Okay, lets go deeper shall we?
True worship will not be limited by our circumstances; in fact, the circumstances often reveal the depth of our worship. For some, when everything is wonderful, they are loving God and singing His praises. They can even carry a smile in a room full of people who looked like they just sucked on lemons on a Monday morning. But when diversity hits, instead of praising God, they accuse Him. They might be able to fake a smile at church (if they even go), and sing unto the Lord, but inside they are angry at Him. What happened to having a grateful heart? Is the relationship based upon God’s performance? Jesus told us in the parable of the Sower that there would be those who receive the Word, but have no root themselves, and endure for a while. When tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, they are offended. He also talks about those who have the Word choked out by the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, the lust of other things, along with the pleasures of this life -they bring no fruit to maturity.
There some who teach others to praise God in order to receive the blessing. Where’s that in Scripture? Shouldn’t we praise Him for the things He has done, and worship Him for Who He is? Yes, we do receive the things we ask for with thanksgiving, but we do not offer praise to get what we want. That is called manipulation. Sometimes people will offer up praise in order to be delivered from their circumstances they find themselves in. Unfortunately, many of them stop praising God when He doesn’t deliver when they think He should. What they haven’t learned is how to enter His presence in spite of their circumstances. When people learn to do that, circumstances lose their power over their lives. So the question is: do you love His presence, or do you love His presents?
Email: contactus@perfectfaith.org
