Good Morning Friends,
“I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I
cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and
grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship
offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I
will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a
river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:21-24)
Empty ceremony without true heart change does
not impress God. Israel was careful to follow all of the prescribed rituals and
ceremonies, but their hearts were not changed. They celebrated the Lord in
feasting. They brought the daily sacrifices that were outlined in the Old
Testament. They sang songs of praise. But none of those meant anything to God. They
were just empty ritual.
God was looking for changed hearts among the
people of Israel. He was looking for the compassionate actions toward others
that that kind of heart change would bring – justice. He was looking for the
new lifestyle that kind of heart change would bring – righteousness.
God has not changed His attitude toward empty
ritual. A person can attend church weekly. He can sing in the choir. He can
give tithes and more. He can pray long and loud prayers. But if his heart is not
in them and if his heart is not changed, these are but empty rituals,
meaningless to the Lord.
It’s how you love Him that matters to God. It’s
how you love others that shows you are His disciple. It is how you treat your
neighbor that demonstrates a heart commitment to the Lord. It is the
righteousness that God is developing in your life that is the true fruit of His
Spirit.
It’s not that worship is not important -- it
is. But it is important only as it comes from a heart that is being renewed. If
our hearts are right then our worship will be pleasing to God.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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