Matthew 15: Worship with the Heart

 

Worship with the Heart

 Matthew 15:8-9

[8] “ ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. [9] They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ ”

 Worship is showing intense love, reverence, and devotion. If so, how would it be worship without one's heart?

 How deep sadness would it be in the heart of the Lord to see people come to Him giving an act of worship and honor with their lips but in vain (fruitless, to no purpose, pointless) because they do things with empty hearts. They appear to draw near to God but their hearts are far from Him.

 Matthew 15:8

[8] “ ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

 Imagine a person saying I love you and giving you flowers or chocolates as an act of love without truly having you in their heart. People see it romantic but is merely external. You would ask if he/she is truly sincere and really having you in his/her heart. But if you know it is only an act, would you be glad?.. but since you cannot see internally, you would not be heartbroken right away.

 

But for God is different because He sees our heart instantly. He knows our thoughts, He perceives what is true and real when we say I love you, I worship you, I honor you, I give you glory and praise, when we sing to Him, when we do things for the Lord, He immediately knows if it's for Him and if it is real and if it is with love... Therefore, an act of showing our devotion, reverence and love without the heart is saddening for we do not think of the One we are giving our love and worship to.

 Knowing that He is real, living, alive and truly cares for us personally, then He truly receives the kind of worship we do, whether in pretense or of a true heart.

 Matthew 15:9

[9]  They worship Me in vain;

 Worship would just be in vain if it is just to do and obey without one’s heart.

 

Reflection: HOW IS YOUR HEART?

-going to church, kneeling/bowing down to God

-praying, reading the scripture and doing bible study to know Him

-equipping & trainings in preparation for work in His field

-mission and evangelism work

-obedience in God's word, singing of praise and worship songs

...does it have a heart for the Lord?

...do you think of the Lord, acknowledging Him as you go through the activities?

...does it shows God your love, reverence and devotion internally within?

… May puso ba ang ginagawa natin para kay Lord o eto ba ay pagsunod lng sa mga tuntunin?

 

Matthew 15:9b

[9b]  their teachings are merely human rules.’ ”

 

Matthew 15:3

[3] Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

 

Moreover, when we obey traditions and human rules over God’s commands and teaching and practicing worship that is not from God’s heart because He did not establish it Himself but by people being blind guides to false worship, this further leads us away from true worship.

 

It would be pitiful if not only that the heart is not in true worship but also the ways of worship is not from God. May we not follow blindly to these false worship practices. Let’s follow the right teachings of worship and practice it with true love, reverence and devotion to our God.

 

Since God sees all truths of our being, then let us freely show our heart and thoughts to Him when we worship Him; directly expressing our love towards God, not of pretense but of real worship.

 

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PASTORA LODY – JCRC CAMBODIA