Complete Failure of Worship

For Thursday, September 29

Complete Failure of Worship

Isaiah 57:15-59:21; Philippians 1:1-26; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 24:9-10 (click to read)

(Isaiah 58)5 Do you think the LORD wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship? 6 I'll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! 7 Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives. 8 Then your light will shine like the dawning sun, and you will quickly be healed.

The Old Testament is very full of this kind of message: worship activities are meaningless when we do not live out the values and guidance of God and His Kingdom. In an earlier place in Isaiah, the prophet quotes God as saying "they sing songs of worship but they never think about me." A side note teaching is to understand that the activities of worship (above: fasting, repentance action, etc.) are for us to grow in our knowledge and experience of God. They are not for pleasing God or even much for honoring God, though God is certainly worthy of all honor. Instead, I honor God when I care about the things God cares about and love the people God loves. I do worship activities so I can reflect on who God is, God's love and grace for me, and determine to live out my gratitude and faith in Jesus that day and every day. It is a complete failure to think that going to worship pleases God - knowing God and living His values is what pleases my Lord and Savior.


Lord Jesus - Help me this day and every day to want to be Your disciple, Your child, Your representative. Help me hear Your Spirit for the things of the Kingdom You want me doing today and the values of the Kingdom You want me growing in right now.

(You can download the Pathway 2011 Bible reading list here.)