Bible Reading: Genesis 49-50; Matthew 15:1-21
Memory verse: “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” Matthew 15:14 (KJV)
Have you ever wondered what the state of worship to God was before Jesus came to the earth? What do you think service to God was like with people like the Pharisees leading the people? First, they put their traditions ahead of God’s laws. They had no personal relationship with God at all. No! not even one of them! No wonder Jesus quoted Isaiah to them, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” Matthew 15:8 (KJV). Without our heart we cannot worship God in spirit and in truth.
Jesus came to save the dying world. He came not only to die for our sins and bring us unto glory, but to correct the wrong way of worship to God that has made man farther from God! No wonder His first words were “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” Matthew 4:17 (KJV). The kingdom of God requires us to change our mindset from the prevailing mindset being encouraged by the religious leaders of the day where the traditions of men are more important than the commandment of God.
Jesus made known to the people the importance of worshipping God from the heart. And true to His words there were a few people recorded in the bible who worshipped God from the heart before Jesus came. People like Simeon and Anna the prophetess, to mention a few. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Simeon visited the Temple and the Holy Spirit allowed him to recognize Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 2:25-34). Same with Anna, the prophetess, who served God with fasting and prayers day and night. Who joined Simeon in praising God and spoke of Jesus to all in the temple (Luke 2:36-38).
Any worship to God not emanating from the heart is vain. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” John 4:24 (KJV). And this can only be achieved when we keep our hearts pure. That why the bible urges us in Proverbs 4:23 (KJV), “keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Jesus listed some of the issues that can defile a person from a heart not kept diligently. These includes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (Matthew 15:19). The Pharisees manifested some of these when they killed Christ.
Thank God for Jesus’ coming else we all would have been led into a ditch the way the way the religious leaders were going about the worship of God. Serve God with your whole heart and soul. Love Him with every being of you for that is the only way to secure your soul in this life.
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to me. Help me to worship You from my heart for the rest of my life in Jesus name.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu