Devotional: Rejected Worship

‘“Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings’” (Amos 5;22, NASB). This past Sunday I attended the church that I grew up in. I really felt good about the worship experience. The people were enthusiastic. The choir sang with great joy. The pastor preached a dynamic sermon. After the services my sisters along with members of their families and I went to eat at our favorite restaurant for family gathering. We were very complimentary about the worship services. It was the consensus that this was the best worship service that we had witnessed in several years. It reminded me of the days of my youth. As I was preparing to write the article for this week I was reminded that just because we enjoyed the services it does not mean that God was pleased. Why would God not be pleased? The prophet Amos preached to a people that had elaborate worship services. They kept festivals and sacrificed to God, but God would not accept their sacrifices and rituals. So, what was the problem? The answer lies in what it means to worship the Lord. God cannot be worshiped externally only with rituals and sacrifices. In order to honor God we must obey His laws, both the moral and ethical ones. In our text today, God tells the people that he will not accept their sacrifices. The people do not meet out justice according to the Law. Their daily lifestyles are far from being righteous (5:24) He does not need their sacrifices. Jesus told the woman at Jacob’s well, ‘“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth’” (John 4:24, NASB). It is not what we do externally that makes our worship acceptable. It is coming to God with clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-6) Father we pray for strength to live obediently to your commands. Let our lives be a testimony to our faith in you. Cleanse our hearts and receive our acts of worship. Amen.