OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2020.
THEME: TRUE WORSHIP.
MEMORISE:
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Isaiah 29:13
READ: 1 Chronicles 16:23-31
23 Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.
24 Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
28 Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
29 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.
MESSAGE:
Worship- true worship is in the absolute submission of the heart to the One being worshipped and adored. You can pretend to be in awe of any human being and they would be deceived, but God searches the intentions of our heart, and that is why He knows those who truly worship Him. John 4:24 says:
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Search your heart: are you a true worshipper? If you claim to be a worshipper and you still commit sin, you need to check your claim again. A true worshipper of God does not take with levity anything that concerns Him. David is a very good example of a true worshipper. He wrote many psalms praising God and talking about how he revered God showed that he truly esteemed Him greatly. He had a burden to build a temple for God and even though He told him not to, David didn’t just fold his hands; he provided all that would be needed to build it. That is clearly not eye service. David was a man after God’s own heart, because he practiced heartfelt worship.
If you’re not as committed to your tasks in Church when your Pastor is not around as you are when he is, you are not a true worshipper. If you worship God because you are expecting something in return, you are not amongst the true worshippers. God rejects heartless worship (Amos 5:21-24). Two people can come with similar offerings to Him and He will reject one and accept the other just like the case of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:15).
Are you a true worshipper?
KEY POINT:
Worship is a thing of the heart; actions merely express it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hebrews 7-10
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 16: LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND.
1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
praise the Lord for he is kind:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
2 Let us sound his name abroad,
for of gods he is the God:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
3 He with all-commanding might
filled the new-made world with light:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
4 All things living he doth feed;
his full hand supplies their need:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
5 Let us then, with glad-some mind,
praise the Lord for he is kind:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.