Vain Worship

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”  John 4:23-24

Our God is a God who desires our worship.  And more importantly… He DESERVES our worship.

The only difference between work and worship is WHO you do it for.  Do whatever you do as unto the Lord and it becomes worship. Do it for yourself, for others, for recognition… and it is work.  It is all about who you want to get the glory and the honor.

So then… what is vain worship?

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt 15:9

WOW!  If someone teaches commandments of men as doctrines of Christ… they worship in vain.

Here we see two truths.

1.       Teaching God’s truth IS worship.  It is work to glorify Him.  To honor Him.

2.       Commandments of men glorify man.

Glorifying man over God is pride.

And pride goeth before destruction.

We must seek His truth and crave His Spirit.  We must worship.  We MUST!!!

Anything added to the gospel as a requirement for salvation is akin to a slave who has been released running back to the taskmaster and shackling himself again!

We have been freed from the bondage of the law.  It is under us in Christ… not us under it.

We are under Grace!  And Grace produces gratefulness!

We must have the attitude of gratitude.  We must be both graceful and grateful. 

And when we are in that place of Grace… we can worship in spirit and truth.

SDG