True worship
That your way may be known upon earth,
Your saving power among all nations. Psalm 67:2
Read Isaiah 1:10—17
Sometimes worship at my church can go very well. There are times when my own mood for worship can be a bit off, but, one way or another, one time or another, one place or another, I have experienced worship I could bottle. The sort of worship after which I come home and say, ‘Now, why can’t it be like that every time?’ And I assume that God had been equally pleased. But then again, perhaps not. Let’s say that worship moved me no closer to his compassionate heart. Let’s say I was no more sensitised to the cry of injustice, and let’s say I was so contented that no need around me got through to breed any sort of response in me, far less a passionate involvement. In that light, I guess God may have been close to offended by my bottled worship experience.
You are a righteous God. You are a zealous God. You desire mercy and not sacrifice. You are not taken in as I am taken in. You breed a holy discontent in me when I know you as you are and I see the world as it is and I worship you and know that this off-centre world is actually your world. Then move me to worship you by living out your righteousness. Let my life be my worship.