Think Again

There have always been people, both in Old Testament times and today, who think they can do just any way they wish and then file in and worship God and God will be pleased. Friend, It can’t be done, so think again. Jeremiah of old brings a strong indictment against these type people. He wrote, “Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.” (Jer.7:8). They had to trust in Jehovah; but they were trusting in false prophets. A false prophet is a false teacher. They are found everywhere today. The Bible  speaks of false  gods, false christs,  false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, false brethren, false witnesses, and false accusers. Jesus said of some that they would come to you in sheep clothing, but are false teachers assuming the garb of humility, friendship, and good will.  They appear as harmless as sheep, but inwardly are ravening wolves. (Matt.7:15).

            There  are  those  who  “serve  not our Lord, but their own belly.”  (Rom.16:17-18). They  need  not attempt to worship God in their disobedience. Jesus made this very strong statement: “By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”  (Matt.13:14-15).Here are people continuing in their sins or selfish ways, and hoping to receive the blessings of God in their mock worship in spite of their sins.  It can’t be done, so think again. The weeping prophet Jeremiah had this question: “Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods that ye have not known, and come before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say we are delivered; that ye may do all these abominations?”  It can’t be done, so think again. For worship to be acceptable it must be done in spirit and in truth. (Jno.4:24).

Although some will not add to the worship of God by bringing in unauthorized music, or subtracting from the worship by removing the Lord’s Supper, they nevertheless continue down the pattern of life filled with themselves, and ready to blame anyone else for their lack of spirituality.  They for a fact have “left their first love”. (Rev.2:4). For God to be pleased with us, there must be a daily living for him, not for self. We are told by the Lord, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”  Matt.16:24). Where is the love of our life? Is it centered in Christ and his church? (Matt.6:33). For the church to grow  we must  return  to our  first  love by praying God to forgive our lukewarm heart and attitudes. To think that all will be well, and the congregation will grow when our love for the Lord and His way does not out measure everything else in our life and of this world, is foolish thinking. It can’t be done, so think again.   May it be as David of old declared: “Create in me a  clean  heart, O  God;  and  renew a right spirit within me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.”. (Psa.51:10,12).

. . . .  Fred  House