Readings for Pentecost 12

Isaiah 29:11-19

Ephesians 5: 1,2, 21-33

Mark 7:1-13

Passage for meditation: The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”  Isaiah 29:13  

Devotion:  Our Lord is speaking of false worship.  Not worship that is repetitive or by some account boring.  Not worship that has the congregation stand and sit at various times or sing old archaic hymns set to dirge like settings.  Our Lord is speaking of so called worship that is disconnected from His very Word.

“Worship” without the Word of God is only worship of self.  Worship of self may give the impression of holiness or righteousness, but if it is based only on the rules taught by men, it is hollow and empty leading only to death.

Worship for us is centered on the Word of God- the story told of Jesus death and resurrection for us.  Our worship is steeped in scriptures that point to our own sinfulness eliciting a response of repentance.  Our worship is steeped in the scriptures that point all the more to the cross of Jesus as the savior from our sin.  Our worship is centered on the Word of God and as such it is the place where the Holy Spirit is alive and active, remaking us with everlasting life, now and forever.