Guilty as Charged

As I read from Isaiah 29 this morning, this verse struck home for me:

"And the Lord said, '. . . this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men . . .' "

The footnotes in my study Bible says, "Outwardly proper worship offends God if it is a way of evading him at a deeper level."

Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 15:8--9 to make this same point.

How many times have we joined in taking communion at church, when our minds are daydreaming and our hearts feel distant from God? How many times have we bowed our heads and closed our eyes when someone is praying, but we are thinking our own thoughts and not actively praying in our hearts? How many times have we joined in worship singing, but are thinking about other things, are concentrating on the technical musicality of the instrument or our own singing, or are preoccupied with any possible distraction--anything  to keep us from meditating on the hymn's words and offering them to God as a worshipful prayer? Have we ever refused to speak up, walk down the aisle, or make a confession because we were concerned about what other people would think? Yes. We all have done many of these things, and more.

We, too, are guilty of outward conformance and inner rebellion.

But the realization need not make us angry and shamed. Pricked in conscience, yes--the purpose of which is to drive us into the arms of the Savior for forgiveness, tenderness, and resolve to go on.

I have a devotional calendar by my bedside, and today's thought said this: "I [God] am leading you along the high road, but there are ascents as well as descents . . . learn to trust me when things go wrong . . . Disruptions to your routine highlight your dependence on Me."

Renew your heart and mind, and commit just today to Him. If you read this late at night, and the day is passed, give him the night, and tomorrow will come. Give it to him too. Pray for genuine worship, that is deep and not only outward. All the world may think you to be pious and "deep," but you will know the truth. You know those secret places in your heart that none of us can see. You know if you have met God in those secret places of the soul. If not, don't despair. Begin today.