Open Heaven Daily Devotional 27 Nov 2024
TOPIC: True Worship
READ: 1 Samuel 15:20-31 (KJV)
MEMORISE
“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.”
John 4:23
Open Heaven Daily Devotional 27 Nov 2024 Message
When people sing, dance, and even cry while worshipping God, it will look as if they are worshipping God in spirit and in truth. However, only God knows those who are truly worshipping Him and those who are just faking it.
Our Bible reading for today shows one of the major indicators of fake worship. Saul was only worshipping God so that the elders, and all the people of Israel, could see that he was worshipping. If you only worship God in church for people to see you, that is not true worship. When genuine worshippers worship God in public, it is an offshoot of what they have been doing in private.
They prefer to worship God in private so that they can freely express themselves, rather than in public, where they would be conscious of the people around them.
READ Open Heaven Daily Devotional 26 Nov 2024 – Only By Grace
Another indicator of fake worship is when your worship consists only of clapping, singing, and dancing, without seeking to know and obey God. If you do not seek to do His will at all times, but only like to sing worship songs, you are only enjoying good music; you are not truly worshipping. Real worship is about pleasing God, not just singing, enjoying good music, and feeling good about yourself.
True worshippers daily seek to know God and obey His commandments. They give their hearts completely to God and seek to glorify Him with everything in their lives. This is because, (1 Corinthians 10:31) says: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
True worship comes from the heart; it is not a jamboree. True worshippers are so in love with God that they worship Him by serving Him and giving to His work in tithes and offerings. They also worship God by putting Him first in everything that they do. They are addicted to spending time in His presence and cannot imagine being separated from Him. Like David, a true worshipper would say:
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” – (Psalm 42:1-2).
The essence of true worship lies in obedience and glorifying God in our lives, rather than offering sacrifices to Him with our mouths only. Are you truly worshipping God?
KEY POINT
Worship comes from the heart, and it is expressed across every part of your life, not just the lips.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Romans 15-16
HYMNAL Take my life, and let it be
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.