November 17 | Isaiah 29:13-16

Dave Mann
7 days ago
2 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Lip Service or True Worship

By Dave Mann

Once again, we have a text that has harsh words for those who are part of God’s people. Honestly, I would like to think that these scathing words apply only to the Israelites of the 8^th century B.C. However, when I do that, the Holy Spirit starts knocking on my heart’s door – tok, tok, tok. He whispers to me, “Don’t you think that these words might have something to say to you personally, today, in the 21^st century?”

Gulp. “OK, Lord. When do I go through my religious routine as a rote habit without allowing my heart to be touched? When do I walk out of church on Sunday morning and feel like I have punched my timecard, having accomplished all my religious duties for the week? Or when do I scan my scheduled daily Bible reading without opening my heart to hear any specific message that the Lord might have for me on this day, in this hour, in my own circumstances?”

It is not uncommon for us to turn a religious activity into an opportunity for pride to take root. There are many religions in the world which feed the religion-into-human-pride machine. The Enemy, unfortunately, can be very creative in turning our hearts away from the Lord God. If the devil fails in keeping us away from the Lord’s Word, his praise, his sacrament, and the fellowship of his people, then he tries to turn those activities, which are good and right and wholesome, into ritualistic acts which keep the Spirit at arm’s length from our hearts. Religious activities which do not work on our hearts can have an effect of making us prideful.

Pride is a sin which is very difficult to overcome. Here are several verses that warn us about our persistent challenge to root out pride.

Proverbs 11:2 -- When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 29:23 -- Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

Isaiah 2:11 -- The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

1 John 2:16 -- For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

May we listen to the Spirit to guard our hearts from lip service, but rather to render heartfelt worship, in Spirit and in truth.

PRAYER

O Holy Spirit, may our hearts be sensitive to your nudging to worship you truly, to confess our sin of pride and to honor the only One worthy of praise and glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of seven. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.