June 19, 2013 
Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV)
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules”
Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)
13 The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”
My Thoughts 💭
We spend countless hours checking, then double checking if everything is plugged in correctly, microphones, instruments, sound desk etc but we fail to leave time to plug our hearts into God!
- Have you followed the rules (I mean order of service) correctly and to the letter?
- Have you dared to remain seated instead of standing during the song as you wouldn’t want to be frowned upon would you?
- Do you make sure you speak nicely during prayer, putting style over substance?
📖 Another Verse 4 2day!
Isaiah 1:15 (NIVUK)
When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
More Thoughts 💭
I hope this will challenge you to focus on connecting your heart to God and not being distracted by what other people are doing, what clothes they’re wearing, if they are sitting, standing, dancing, running, kneeling. Just connect with God as you can’t worship for someone else! When you do, nothing else will matter anyway!
Don’t just go to Church, BE THE CHURCH!
iChristian 
Reblogged this on Lessons by Heart and commented:
On Sundays I don’t write, but share what others have written. This excellent article by Steve Rebus pertains to Sunday (as well as every other day of the week, if we truly live for Jesus). Today is an appropriate day to share his thoughts with you.
If you haven’t been to Steve’s blog, be sure to poke around. His story is amazing, his photography beautiful!
May the Lord bless and keep you this day, and make His face shine brightly upon you, and give you peace.
Yours in Christ,
Tami
\o/
Praise Jesus!
God bless you!
Steve, this is an excellent article. It is something I struggle with week after week on the worship team. What’s the point of having all the equipment in perfect order, the instruments tuned, and the sound set perfectly – if my hands are dirty and it’s mostly just a “gig?” We may get attention and applause now, but God’s not impressed, nor will our labor be rewarded. There have been many times that He has brought something to mind for me to confess…while I’m leading worship. I’d rather be silent if my singing is going to be an offense to Him!
I need to have this truth brought to mind often so that worship is about Him – period. Thanks for sharing.
Tami
\o/
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to read and comment! It can be so easy to get distracted sometimes, so its important to keep Jesus in the centre of our hearts.
God bless you. 🙂
You’re welcome. I also saved a link to your post to reblog in the near future. It’s fantastic. 🙂
May the Lord be gracious to you today, and give you peace!
\o/
Excellent! Thank you so much! 🙂
Amen. It’s all about Him and for Him
Amen! Its so easy for people to try and put a preferred style onto a meeting, instead of just focusing on connecting our hearts with God.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, its great to see you here! 😀
Sometimes I think we get too busy “doing” for God that we forget to “worship” God. That’s most important! Thanks for a great post.
Thanks Julie, i agree totally with you, its too easy to get distracted and put things in-between ourselves and God.
Great to see you here! God bless you. 🙂
Interesting that I should “Like” this & not go to church. Or – is it?
I love the main message here.
Slowly but sure – I’m getting there 🙂
Hi RoSy! Thanks so much for commenting and enjoying my post!
Sometimes “Church Buildings” can leave more scars than impressions of Love on peoples hearts. It such a shame that Jesus seems to be left out! Which is why church is something we do 24/7 and not only for a couple of hours on a sunday morning.
The World is not watching us worship in a building on sundays, they are watching us at work, eating out, shopping etc, and its at these places where they will see our hearts.
Its great to see you here, and i look forwards to chatting again! God bless you. 😀
YES! I blogged about worship this morning too! It’s not about what others think or do, it’s all about God and what He has done for us.
Amen! Thanks so much Valerie for reading and commenting! I always love your true teachings! 🙂
God bless you.
ah well, the best place for worship is still the secret closet. no distractions there but your own sin.
I know exactly what you mean; I must have been there sometime.
forgive me please, i can´t tell if you are being sarcastic or not. if you aren´t i´d say get back there and then guard it with your life. He is waiting for us there and nowhere else. Jesus would have us authentic and madly in love with Him. that is living!
Hi,
Definitely not sarcastic – only a bit tongue in cheek with my phrasing because your comment really struck a chord with me – I know exactly what you mean.
I’m there constantly, ever since He changed my life.
Thank you for replying to me.
Ben.
with fear and trembling i look at the secret closet. every real moment of my life is there. i only know He is real and He is there, exactly where He promised He would be. there are many questions about many modern ideas, but Jesus is bigger than them all and He does exactly as He pleases. i´m glad it pleased Him to come and fetch you and me.
Me too – wouldn’t change it for anything
bless you, may the Lord wrap His arms around us today, may we choose His presence over every idol. let our minds be clear about it. He is Lord.
Amen
Well said!
It’s so easy to talk the walk – but walking the talk, that’s a different game. It’s not happening, unless, as you said, you’re really plugged in Him.
Totally agree Ben! 🙂