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Editors note: This is part of  the devotional I had with the Lord this morning/afternoon of August 16, 05 that I wanted to share with you all! If the questions or statements can be used as Bible study guides or discussion questions feel free to use them.

Quiet Times: (Psalm 76, Proverbs 16, and Mark 7:1-8)

“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.^” (Mark 7:1-4, NIV)

“So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" (Mark 7:5, NIV)

“He replied, 'Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." (Mark 7:6-8, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself who are the characters involved.

1. Pharisees & Teachers of the law

2. Disciples

3. Jesus

I asked myself the role of the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

1. They came from Jerusalem and gathered around Jesus.

2. They saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed.

3. They asked Jesus, ”Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?”

I asked myself the role of the disciples.

They were eating food with “unclean” hands according to the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

I asked myself the role of Jesus.

Jesus responds to the ‘Pharisees & teachers of the law’ with 7 rebuking statements against them:

1. Jesus tells them the prophet Isaiah was right when he prophesized about them.

2. Jesus says to them, ‘You hypocrites.’

3. Jesus reminds them prophesy that states, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’

4. Jesus reminds them prophesy that states, “They worship me in vain.”

5. Jesus reminds them prophesy that states, “Their teachings are but rules taught by men.”

6. Jesus says to them, “You have let go of the commands of God.”

7. Jesus says to them, “You are holding on to the traditions of men.”

I decided to look at today the next two of Jesus' 7 rebuking statements: 

Jesus reminds them prophesy that states, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’

Jesus reminds them prophesy that states, “They worship me in vain.”

Interpretations:

I asked myself what is significance of Jesus letting the Pharisees and Teachers of the law know, “These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.”

I felt Jesus was making a significant statement about worship. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were thinking they were worshipping God properly but to Jesus they were not. Jesus wanted them to know just because words come out of their mouth regarding God does not make their worship true because their words do not match their heart towards God.

Wow! That is a powerful statement to make! Jesus wants them to know honoring someone if our heart is not in it is the same as not honoring them at all. In essence, Jesus was telling them that they were not truly honoring God by their worship. To hit the point home, Jesus told them ‘they worship me in vain.”

I asked myself the significance of Jesus stating, ‘they worship me in vain.”

Jesus is letting them know that they are indeed worshipping but just because they are worshipping God does not mean their worship is genuine. Instead, Jesus states their worship is in vain. In other words, they may as well not have been worshipping God than going through the motions thinking they are honoring God by their words. Jesus wants more than people’s lip service and it starts with the heart. Jesus wants their hearts to be right and worship the Father in spirit and truth.

^“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23, NIV)

This is something the Pharisees and teachers of the law were not doing according to Jesus. Jesus wanted their words coming out of their lips acknowledging God to be in line with their heart towards God. When they are not, the worship is in vain.

I asked myself what is worship.

Worship can be singing songs to the Lord; prayer to the Lord; but most of all a personal sacrifice of our lives to the Lord in a spiritual sense. It means our songs, our prayer, and the way we live our lives when examined by the Lord has to show the Lord that our worship is genuine because our hearts are close to the Lord.

I asked myself why Jesus states, ‘their hearts are far from me.’

When people are doing things for the sake of ritual, going through the motions, or their devotion is misplaced in the wrong place. In those times, the Lord will feel that their hearts are far from Him even though they are worshipping. So, without worshipping the Creator from the heart in obedience to His Word cannot be seen as true worship.

Time after time God saw the people’s hearts far from Him because they were worshipping the created than the Creator. They were worshipping man made things than the One who made man. If there was one sin that Israel was gravely sinful of was the sin of idolatry. Their lips felt they were worshipping God when they were in essence worshipping idols from God’s point of view so their hearts were not with Him.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life when it comes to worship. I need to be aware how easily our hearts can be far from God when we do things for the sake of motions, ritual, or if our worship is misplaced. Then, our worship becomes vain.

Idols is mentioned 172 times in Scripture! This is to show how many times people did not worship Jehovah but turned to other forms of worship. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were doing something similar according to Jesus. The sad thing is they would have known Scriptures and yet their hearts were far from God. These are some of the commands they would have been obeying if they followed God with their hearts and worshipped Him and Him alone.

“You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,…” (Exodus 20:3-5a, NIV)

" 'Do not turn to idols or make gods of cast metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:4, NIV)

 " 'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 26:1, NIV)

“You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back.” (1 Kings 14:9, NIV)

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” (Jonah 2:8, NIV)

"Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!'  Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.” (Habakkuk 2:17-19, NIV)

^“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:20-21, NIV)

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-39, NIV)

It is interesting that ‘heart’ is mentioned over lips when loving God so our worship of the Lord should involve us loving the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and with all our mind.’ This means total surrender and not keeping some of our heart, soul, or mind to do our own things.

I asked myself how our hearts can be close to the Lord when we worship Him.

I was reminded of Romans 12:1-2 which states, Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

Worship does not begin and end on Sunday. Sunday worship is a corporate act of worship when our hearts are turned towards the Lord. But, worship of the Lord should continue throughout the week by mediating on His Word, praying, praising, and the way we live our lives. It is not just about feel good songs but the deciding factor of true worship is whether it is geared towards the Lord or to make us feel good because we loved the song tunes, etc.

I ask you now dear friend how does the Lord view your worship?

Dear friend the Lord viewed the Pharisees and teachers of the law’s worship as being in vain because their hearts were not turned genuinely towards the Lord. Instead, they were following ritual, tradition, and whatever was coming out of their mouths. They were saying things but their heart was far from the Lord. This can happen to us too if we let our worship of the Lord just become a ritual, a checkout thing to do for the week, etc. This is not what Jesus sees as worship friend. Singing and praising the Lord with songs, music can be great when accompanied by our devotional to the Lord coming from the heart. This can only happen when we are obedient to the Lord and worship Him as He wants to be worshipped. We may think we are worshipping the Lord but the Lord can think it to be in vain when not done properly and in obedience with Scripture. We are to worship God and God alone and keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Keeping myself reminded of Romans 12:1-2 had made such an impression on me especially when it came to worship.

Friend, Jesus loves you so much and waits eagerly for you to come and worship. Yes, He does! Your worship can be like fragrance going to the Lord.

Won’t you do that friend?

Won’t you worship the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind in all you do.

You can do it friend! You can spend time in His Word, in prayer, and praising of the Lord as you seek Him and Him alone in your life. Let Him guide and lead you for He will! Yes, He will friend! I know He will! He loves you so much! That is exciting to know. Lord views your worship so you make it special by putting your heart close to the Lord and seeking Him to give Him all the praise, honor, and glory.

May you worship the Lord in spirit and truth! May the Lord see your heart close to Him throughout the week and not limit yourself to Sunday worship. May your first love be Jesus Christ and Him alone! May everything you do in life be a reflection of your worship of the Lord our God! Amen!

“Worship Our Redeemer Seeking Him In Praise!” (W.O.R.S.H.I.P)/”How does the Lord view your worship?”

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for loving us so much. Thank you for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. Thank you for what I have learned regarding worship. There is so much more to learn and you will show it in your time. We are sorry for our sin especially when our hearts have been far from you and our words have just been words because heart towards you has not been a reflection of your heart. Forgive us Oh Lord for the glory and honor of your Name. Deliver us and bring us closer to you. May our life bring you honor and glory! May our lifestyle of worship everyday show others that you are Lord of all and there is no other. Thank you Jesus for you tell us that you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through you. You remind us not to worship idols for when we worship idols we cannot be worshipping you at the same time. Help us please not to be engaged in any type of idol worship but to give our bodies as living sacrifices to you Lord, holy and pleasing to you for that is our spiritual act of worship you want. Thank you so much Jesus. We entrust our lives to you and thank you for loving us so much! Thank you for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Jesus, I thank you for being the Bread of Life. You are the Living Bread of my life. Thank you for coming from Heaven and giving your life for the life of the world. You sacrificed yourself for humanity. Thank you Lord when we eat of you symbolically making you part of our life, digesting what you teach us by following you, we can be living Eternally, and the fruit that comes will reflect and resemble your life. I want that Father God. I want that Lord Jesus! I want that Holy Spirit! I know of a lot of people who partake of Holy Communion where the bread represents your body broken for their sin and the juice represents your blood shed for their sin. When we partake of Holy Communion, we are reminded that we are remembering you. I want to remember you always Lord Jesus. But for me to remember you always, I need to know you and acknowledge everything you said you are. So right now I acknowledge that you are my Lord and Personal Savior who died and rose again to give me life from sin. So right now, I come to you and say how sorry I am for my sin and living a life on my own. I repent of my sin and ask you to forgive me of my sin with your cleansing blood which I accept. Wash me and I will be clean from this infection of sin. Come Lord Jesus and please become part of my life as you live in me and I will live for you. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I do need your Spirit to reside in me and work in me and through me so I surrender all that I am and will be to you. Whatever your will is for me, please give me the strength and willingness to bear it and rejoice in you. Thank you so much Jesus. I thank you Jesus for becoming my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and have answered me. I thank you that I am your child Oh God. I thank you for becoming my only Way, Turth, and Life to Eternal Life. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

(You can start your Christian adventure by reading the Gospel of John)

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

P.S.. If you need someone to talk to, pray with, or have a  Bible study, you can email me at reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com and we can set up a time that is convenient for you! You can also call me at 412-720-4579

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