Token Worship

The Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.
-Micah 6:8 (TEV)

EACH day as I prepare for work, my routine is the same. In fact, I go through the motions with little thought. At times I can't remember performing individual tasks associated with getting ready. Likewise, though I attend church three times a week, tithe regularly, and serve in the church, I sometimes find myself going through the motions when it comes to worship.

In today's suggested reading, we see that God had a complaint against the people of Israel. They had rejected God's covenant and forgotten what God had done for them; they offered business-as-usual worship. They brought gifts and offerings with insincere and ungrateful hearts. But God is not honored by token worship.

Might God have a similar complaint against me? At times my prayers are shallow and repetitive, my mind is preoccupied with the events of the day, and my tithes and offerings are brought with an unappreciative heart. Am I guilty of token worship? After all, God is concerned with our hearts, our attitudes, and our living "in humble fellowship with our God."


Prayer
Dear God, forgive our shallow acts of worship. Help us to prepare our minds and hearts before we enter worship so that we come before you "in spirit and in truth." (See John 4:23.) Amen.



From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Terry Thomas Bowman