"Church Goers"

  What a sad commentary on the people of God. People worshipping God with their sacrifices, prayers and whatever else goes into their worship thinking God is thrilled with their assembling together in His name. It was nothing more than outward religion and a Divine disgust. That's what Isaiah chapter one speaks. Things were being practiced in their lives and attitudes and had gone on so long they no longer knew God! They has lost their senses. But they knew their worship! They were "church-goers". Every time the doors were open, they were there. Offerings and all the "acts of worship" were involved. But God would not accept any of it. They were people that were God rejected.

  It doesn't take much to look at Micah 6 where Micah asks the "church-goers" about all their "acts of worship" only to find out that God is looking for a people that will do justice and love kindness. God calls people to walk humbly (not arrogantly, loud and know-it-alls) with the Lord. That's what God's people had become in Isaiah 1. They were so blind to their true spiritual condition they did not realize they were evildoers and sick from head to toe!

  What does this speak to us today? I have often wondered how much of my own personal worship with the saints has been God rejected? What was my motive for why I am there? To worship God from your heart takes an humble approach. It takes one being forgiven and forgiveness breeds love. It's not about just offering to God some "acts of worship" that we have fulfilled our obligation! It's about a deep seated love because you know you are forgiven.

  Back to Isaiah 1 we find right in the middle of God calling His people so sinful they are compared to Sodom and Gomorrah (1:10), God reaches out in a tenderness in 1:18. In fact, if you would read it carefully, it almost makes you want to sing! It prompts that from within. This people of smugness, formalists, bursting with self-righteousness are so unaware. This was a people that would be worthy of being annihilated. God calls and God wants to talk! He doesn't want them to talk. God Himself speaks and doesn't beat around the bush. He offers...I WANT TO CLEANSE YOU! God wants them to turn with their heart. The court is being held and within that court we find the Judge wanting to release those in His righteousness by paying their price. Humble, contrite and seeking God from the heart will always bring abundant pardon (Isa. 55:7). Abundant pardon brings about love and love realizes how much you have been forgiven and atoned for. There is our reason to worship!