Pleasing to God or Not?
Isaiah 65:1-3
"I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;"
Many years ago, Dr. John R. Rice preached a sermon called “Church Members Who Make God Sick.” It was taken from the warning given to the church at Laodicea. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). God is a loving Father and He is never cruel or unkind to us. But His love is not a blind love that overlooks our sins and transgressions. When we walk in our own way rather than obeying Him, and when we follow the outward forms of worship without hearts that love Him, God is disgusted.
The people in Isaiah's day thought that everything was fine because they went through the formal prayers and sacrifices. God had a different opinion. “Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them” (Isaiah 1:14). No amount of church attendance, giving, singing or anything else that we do “for God” makes up for sin in our lives. And the louder we become in professing our outward religion when it is not matched by an inward heart of humility and surrender, the more disgusting God thinks it is. We may be able to fool other people, at least for a time, but God truly knows what is in our hearts.
Growth Principle:
We don’t please God by outward forms of religious activity but by a heart of humility and obedience.