Putting God to the Test
April 19, 2024
When the Heart’s Not in It
April 11, 2018
Then the LORD said, “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 “I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. – AMOS 5:21
God hates the religion that merely goes through the motions. Some bow the knee, some stand while singing, there are those who hold up the hands, and those who clasp them. There are folk who pray with head bowed and others tilt upward. Many rationalize that if the body is in the right position and the spoken formula precise, then Heaven is happy.
“Hate” is a strong word. In Old Testament Hebrew it means loathing something so much you get rid of it as fast as possible—like biting into a rotten egg. When our heart is not involved in our relationship with God, our religious rituals are disgusting to His palate. Such people ask, “How little can I do and still make God happy?” By the minimums of external compliance we try to short circuit grace and keep just enough of the Law to keep us on the happy-face side of God. Not only does this repulse God, but it cheats us.
The heart wholly yielded to Him experiences His joy and peace. Heartless religion produces only bondage to rules and guilt.
Today’s Focus
Renew your commitment to a genuine relationship with your Heavenly Father.
