Psalm 119:7 – I will praise You with an upright heart when I learn Your righteous rules.

THEME OF THE DAY: HOW TO ENSURE OUR WORSHIP IS ACCEPTABLE Drop the word “worship” in a conversation among Christians. The dialogue will get lively quickly, even emotionally charged. We will hear words like, “Worship must be culturally relevant to reach today’s audience.” Be careful here. It is so easy to fall into the trap of pragmatism and attempt to modify church to reach the world. Remember, the church is for Christians, not sinners. The church is the Bride of Christ and not for the world. Don’t misunderstand me. The church is culturally relevant when the Gospel is center and we are active in reaching sinners. One thing that makes the church and worship relevant is Christ-centeredness from which love flows. Love is always culturally relevant and that throughout church history. We don’t need to try to conform to the world and its methods. We simply need to love Christ, believe in the power of prayer, preaching, and love, then go into the world with this message to the lost. That is what makes us relevant.

Another topic which will occur among Christians in the realm of worship might be the words, “I prefer contemporary worship over traditional.” By the way, the Bible never makes such distinction. I often wonder what churches mean when I read, see, or hear about “Contemporary Services” and “Traditional Services.” I don’t judge them. I just try to figure out where that is supported in the Bible. And normally, what I have discovered is the distinction is mainly in the type of music. Oh, I am not advocating or condemning either. I am not a musician, but I like music. I love singing hymns written hundreds of years ago as well as recently written songs. Music is so important in worship. We have the greatest worship hymnal ever penned in the Psalms. And it is the longest book in our Bibles so music matters a lot to the Lord in our worship. However, music is not necessary for worship. It is not a requirement, but there are some requirements. Today, I want us to consider what is the fundamental and essential requirement which must be present if worship is going to be acceptable to the Lord and life-changing for us.

The Lord Jesus told us the worship His Father seeks is to be ‘in spirit and truth’ (John 4:23). This means with sincerity and based on the Word of God. Such description of acceptable worship is not determined by an emotional experience or an environment we create to set a mood for the worshippers. Nor is it based on old hymns or new songs; instruments or no instruments; casual attire or shirt, tie, and dresses. By the way, make sure our churches go easy on the dress code. Don’t impose such bondage on people, but also remember we are coming to meet a King, the King and dress appropriately. God does look at the heart, but He also commands us not to be a stumbling block to others and sometimes attire may do just that.

So, to worship our living God ‘in spirit and truth’ is determined by and requires one thing be in place in our lives – a life of consistent obedience. If we are going to offer acceptable worship to God, we must be living acceptable lives before Him. The Psalmist proclaims, ‘I will praise You with an upright heart, when I learn Your righteous rules.’ He tells us worship flows from an upright and sincere heart that has learned God’s Word and learning in the life of a Christian is only true when what has been learned is lived. It is deception to think we can live all week long neglecting the Lord, be passive toward holy living, lack purposeful obedience to God’s Word, and arrive to church on Sunday offering Him acceptable worship ‘in spirit and truth.’ There are reasons why too often our experiences in church are boring and worship dull, unmoving and lacking the power that changes us. One reason may be our lack of the number one pre-requisite for acceptable worship – acceptable living through acceptable obedience. May the Lord find us being a worshipful people, not sometimes, but all the time as we learn to fulfill the important first step in doing so – a life committed to obeying Him on a daily and deepening basis.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to see that the necessary foundation to worship You in spirit and truth is a life of obedience”

QUOTE: “Acceptable worship is only possible when acceptable living is occurring.”