In our last post, we established the need for a Spiritual Demo Day—the painful but necessary act of letting Jesus flip the tables of lukewarm living and settled spirituality. But once the junk is cleared out, what is the standard for the new construction?
We are wired to assess beauty and to experience the world around us. In our consumerist culture, we habitually judge everything—from a restaurant to a church service. Most of us probably walk away from worship each week analyzing and evaluating: Were the songs to my liking? Did the pastor preach a good sermon? Was it too loud?
We spend time grading our worship services, but God is even more actively evaluating the worshipers. Jesus said the Father was actually seeking out those who would worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). He’s looking for our response to Him first, not just our response to the environment.
The Pop Quiz: Acceptable Worship
Pop quiz: “Is what we regard most about worship and what God regards most about worship the same thing?”
For too long, we’ve assumed that if we simply show up, sing songs, pray prayers, and listen to a sermon, God must be pleased. But that assumption is dangerous, because it neglects God’s view of our offering.
God addressed His people throughout scripture in regards to worship, consistently bringing correction alongside His compassion. While He is merciful and gracious, He is far more interested in the integrity of our hearts than He is in our song styles or our church attendance.
Look at the rebuke He gives Israel in Amos 5:
“I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them… Take away from Me the noise of your songs… But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:21-24)
God doesn’t just receive anything we do simply because we go through the motion. In these verses, He says, “I do not savor…” and “I will not hear…” This should give us great pause. He is addressing the heart, not the song list.
The True Sacrifice
It is our sin and unrighteousness that truly ruins our worship—not our songs, liturgies, or messages. We can be going through the motions externally and be vacant spiritually. You can sing the words on the screen while your heart is far from God.
Jesus looked at the religious leaders of his day who were giving lip service to their worship and told them they were like white-washed tombs, which “outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).
We cannot dismiss this as being Israel’s problem alone.
What God is truly seeking is humility. David realized this when he said: “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
God is always interested in the integrity of our hearts. Stubbornness and self-will, pride, arrogance, and focus on our own agendas will repel Him. But righteousness, humility, and a broken spirit will draw Him.
So, one final question: Do you want to be filled?
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
We cannot dismiss the call to holiness. God is far more interested in the integrity of our hearts than He is in our church attendance. Do you truly hunger and thirst for righteousness?
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The heart posture is key, but now we must establish the motivation. What is the true source of all righteousness and passion? The journey continues next month when we dive into Return to Your First Love (Revelation 2). You can grab the entire book’s framework now, or join me next time to continue the building process.
