Right Worship - Reflecții scripturale de dimineață

We don’t know much about Amos, only what the book of the Bible with his name tells us.

But his message was of immense importance to the nation of Israel. They had become like the nations around them, pursuing wealth and power, influence and fame. They wanted to feel like they belonged and they also wanted to live a comfortable life.

And all these things came at a cost - they took advantage of the poor and the weak, they no longer followed the Lord God’s instructions, often doing things that looked religious but lacked the heart and intentions that should have been there.

And the truth is, God knows. Just like the prophet Jonah, we can not hide from God - and we can’t hide our hearts either.

In Amos chapter 5 he tells the people of God to turn back to their Lord…

'Now this is what the Lord says to the family of Israel: *“Come back to me and live!’* (5:4)

*’Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!* Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.' (5:14)

*’Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.* Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.' (5:15)

It wasn’t that the people of Israel had completely walked away from God. They actually continued to make sacrifices, and hold many of the religious ceremonies and celebrations that God had commanded. In todays world, the looked like decent Christians. But God saw straight to their hearts.

*’“I hate all your show and pretense—* the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps.' (5:21-23)

Looking good in religion, giving “gifts” to God and others, signing great songs with beautiful music alone do not please God. Nothing pleases Him without righteous living. When the nation of Israel ignored the poor and weak, and lived like the world around them in sin, their worship of God was polluted. No one wants to eat a beautiful fresh cozanac that has a little bit of dog droppings in it. (Forgive the illustration, but it fits perfectly). God doesn’t want our worship and praise with even a little bit of sin and wickedness mixed in.

Remember Nehemiah? (Who could forget him!) Nehemiah had Ezra read the Scriptures to the people. Then Ezra praised God (Nehemiah 8:6) after they had confessed their sins - “întreg poporul, ridicând mâinile, a răspuns: „Amin! Amin!“ Apoi s‑au plecat și s‑au închinat Domnului cu fața la pământ.

They had confessed their sins, and were in a place to truly worship God. The lifting of their hands was an indication that they were not covered in sin, but were clean and able to properly worship the one true living God, creator of the heavens and the earth.

After telling the people of God that God hated their religious acts because they were not done with the right hearts, Amos proclaims a clear message from God that:

*’Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of _righteous living.’*_ (5:24)

*It doesn’t matter* how great we look when we “worship God”…

*It doesn’t matter* how many times a week we “pray and fast”…

*It doesn’t matter* how many Christian books we read, or conferences we go too…

*It doesn’t matter* how much and how often we give money to the church….

*It doesn’t matter* how amazing our signing is on Sunday…

*It doesn’t matter* how hard & how often we pray…

*It doesn’t matter* ________________…

_*It doesn’t matter what we do, if our hearts are not right with God.*_

Amos is clear in his message from God - you can do all these impressive and wonderful things, but more than that, God wants you to live righteously.

When we live righteously, those other things flow out of us naturally. They don’t need to be forced. And they are not the focus of our hearts.

May we each pursue righteous living today. Not focus on making a show before God or men, but living as He desires and directs.