This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.

                                                                                                                   Matthew 15:8-9

Today: Read Matthew 15

Today we find Jesus again dealing with the Pharisees and their obsession with religious rituals. The disciples had failed to ceremonially wash their hands before eating. We wash our hands for sanitary reasons however the Pharisees believed it must be done as a way of pleasing God. Jesus deals with them and eventually announces to the disciples that the Pharisees concern was unfounded and that eating with unwashed hands does not defile them in any way (Matthew 15:20). While dealing with this situation, Jesus quotes from the prophet Isaiah:

Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service,
but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote…

                                                                                                                        Isaiah 29:13 

Jesus is declaring that the Pharisees were fulfilling this prophecy by their attitude and actions. Christ stated that these religious men were claiming worship of God but He saw through their efforts, knowing that their hearts did not reflect an attitude of worship. So what do we need to learn from this passage? I believe we need to guard ourselves from becoming people who outwardly profess worship while lacking true devotion in our hearts. Here are five suggestions to consider when assessing your own worship.

(1) Worship is an attitude of the heart.

When you hear the word “worship”, what is it that comes to your mind? If you were raised in a Christian home, you might think of worship as the singing portion of a church service. Certainly singing is a part of worship but it encompasses a great deal more. Worship is an attitude that someone has toward God and it begins in the heart. While addressing the Pharisees, Jesus identified that their problem was that they outwardly professed worship and devotion to God but inwardly, they were lacking and misguided. Worship that is pleasing to God begins and flows from our hearts.

(2) No one can accurately assess authentic worship other than God and the participant.

Worship is a private matter. There is no single way to worship God therefore everyone is responsible for determining whether or not their heart is genuine. Since God is the object of our worship, He is the ultimate judge in all matters concerning this issue. When we make judgments on the worship of others, we are putting ourselves in the place of God and professing abilities beyond ourselves, namely, the capacity to see into the heart of another. All such judgments are inconsistent with the Christian life.

(3) Worship is not limited to any specific genre or style of music.

Music plays an important role in the worship life of many believers. There are numerous options in choosing worship music and most people have their favorites. Generational and geographical factors drive diversity in music. If we could time travel, we would discover that 15th century worship music would sound completely different from that of the 19th, 20th, or 21st centuries. Likewise, if we were to worship with Christians in Africa, the music would be very different than that of churches in South America, Europe, or Asia. These two factors affect our preference in music. Just keep in mind that whatever you sing to God, sing it with all of your heart!

(4) Worship is not limited to a specific location.

You do not have to “be in church” in order to worship God. Worship can happen anywhere at anytime. I have a confession to make. My most rewarding times of worship are when I’m alone with God. That’s not to diminish the importance of corporate worship, just a reminder that worshiping God should be a lifestyle, not just a weekly event. We can praise God every moment of every day. Worship brings glory to God but it also pays dividends for us as well. If praising God is not currently a part of your daily routine, give it a try!

(5) Worship comes from hearing the truth and celebrating its reality in your life.

The gospel is good news. When we understand what Jesus has accomplished on the cross and receive His forgiveness and redemption, authentic worship can then flow from a heart of gratitude. Spirit-filled worship is God-pleasing worship. An absence of spiritual freedom can hinder our efforts in offering up praise to God. But when we live in the forgiveness and freedom that comes from embracing the gospel, worship becomes a natural by-product of our lives. The Pharisees, distracted by rules and regulations, were engaging in spiritual lip service. Their outward actions appeared impressive, but their hearts gave them away.

Is your life void of worship? If so, what obstacles are keeping you from enjoying this part of the Christian life? Has worship become mundane and ritualistic? Let’s be a people that rediscover the joy of authentic worship in our daily lives and then encourage those around us to do the same!

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

                                                                                                   John 4:24