"And the Lord says, 'These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.'"
Isaiah 29:13
I was preparing for an event a few years ago when I discovered this verse. However, I was not in the book of Isaiah. My study was in the book of Matthew. (Matthew 15:8) I could not believe it; this was me.
I claimed I belonged to the Lord but I did not honor Him with my lips. My heart was far from Him. And my worship? My worship was defined by rules of man not lead by a heart stirred with passion. My thinking was foolish. I believed my evil deeds could be seen by the Lord.
Our key verse includes some extremely important words: the Lord says. Isaiah is not paraphrasing the Lord's message it is Lord Himself is speaking. He refers to those who give lip service, whose hearts are far from His, and participate in man-made worship as hypocrites. The Lord has a plan for such hypocrites. He plans to astound them with amazing wonders. The wise will lose their wisdom and intelligence of the intelligent will disappear.
This hypocrite has seen evidence of all three come to fruition in her life at some time or another. Since I have been truly seeking (not without some failures I might add) to live for the Lord I have seen amazing wonders. Those I thought were wise and intelligent have been brought down, including me.
Wouldn't it be awesome to hear these words?
"And the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. I gladly claim them. They honor me with their lips because their hearts are close to my heart. They worship me with authenticity and passion without following rules and rituals created by man. Yes, these children say they are mine and I gladly with great joy claim them.'"
Let it be so, Lord Jesus. May our lips give you more than "service" and our hearts be joined to Your heart. When our relationship is like this we will not be able to stop praising and worshiping the wonder of who you are. Amen
10 Comments:
Oh Wendy, this verse had me on the floor beside my bed weeping.
I've written my response on my blog, but the Lord has shown me that my heart is far from Him. My heart is immersed in lesser things. My heart is cold and dry. My heart is resentful and envious. My heart is jealous and angry. My heart is hurt and confused. My heart is repentant and broken. My heart is weeping and longing to see the Lord. My heart is tired.
His Word says, "The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord." (Isaiah 29:19) Father, I need that filling of 'fresh Joy'.
Lord, bridge the gap Lord, between my heart and Your presence. We've been miles apart. Oh, how I desire Him to gladly claim me as His own.
Humbly,
Joy
Today's reading contains so much meat to chew on all day long! So many points to ponder about. I loved what you wrote Wendy. This may be a post to keep close by--- to read and re-read! Oh, my heart desires that my Lord would look upon me and say, "She's been claimed by me, her passion and joy surround her."
The beginning of the reading today caught my attention too, "they have twisted God's instructions, and violated his laws." The price?
"only a few are left alive." Thank you Lord for sparing a remnant! I want to be a part of that remnant, who "shout and sing for joy."
Another verse happens to be one of my fav. "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"
True peace comes from God. I love the illustration in Psalm 103:12.
His peace is as a river that swells and rolls onward until it carries sin and sorrow away as far as the east is from the west. Dear Girlfriends, whatever our trial that we are in the middle of, we need to rejoice in the Lord knowing that He is in control. If we do not truly trust in our God, then our sorrows, our sufferings, our disappointments are just going to continue to overshadow Christ's presence in our day. We will not reap His peace and we will only rob ourselves! Our independent earthly self, needs to surrender ourselves to Christ! Every morning. Every morning!! When we give our time and all of our heart to God and we wait...he will show up. If our heart is somewhere else, we can not expect his abiding presence. David always comes to my mind. He often called out to God in prayer. He was so assured that God was near to Him. The secret dear sisters is to LOVE God's Word and to pray according to His Will for our day. Everyday. We will lose His peace by choosing to disobey His Word. Daily we must seek Him and ask Him to show us His way.
I LOVE 26:19, "...For your life-giving light will fall like dew..." Love it!
Humbly, I come before you today dear Lord. I seek to be filled "with fresh joy" from you(29:19); thank you for the many blessings you have given to me. I stand in awe of you God!
Intentionally looking forward to today because I'm choosing to let the Lord guide me. Forget my ways, for I know Lord, You have my best at heart! You made me and You know my needs more than I do. Guide me Lord today. Thank you for being so near to me, that I can feel your presence upon me. Help me trust and believe you more today.
Love and prayers coming your way dear friends, Lori - AZ
Heavenly Father,
You are my tower of refuge in the storm, my eternal rock.
As I say these things may they not come just from my lips; but from my heart,
Forgive the wickedness of my sins that prevent this from happening,
Help me to have a servant’s heart.
Remove any hypocrisy that hinders your work.
Father, no longer allow false testimony or judgment to pass my lips and heart.
Forgive me for these sins that
I have committed.
May my heart begin fresh and new with you today.
As I stand in awe of Your mighty presence and wonder,
May my soul find rest in you.
I pray for understanding and grace as I seek Your ways.
Thank for what You have done and will do.
Amen
Diane
Hi gals! Such feeling and emotion pouring from your hearts this morning. I can feel those emotions as I read each one.
I hear repentance, pain, enthusiasm,encouragement, humbleness, respect and awe. Each one spoke to my heart as well.
I was drawn to this verse this morning in Isaiah:
"What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the Lord; who do their evil deeds in the dark! "The LORD can't see us," they say. "He doesn't know what's going on! How foolish can you be?
He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, "He didn't make me? Does a jar ever say, "The Potter who made me is stupid?"
Then in Isaiah 64: 8
"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."
I have done a few things in my life when I thought no one was looking. Then I am reminded that our Father in Heaven sees all. I am embarrassed and humbled as I realize His eyes are upon me always.
Here's a great Hymn often sung in a Traditional service. Listen to the words with your heart and be remolded by the Potter!
I am the Potter and You are the Clay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEBOb-H1NbY
Feeling it with you all this morning.
Love from Illinois, Debbie
Thank you for these thoughts. My heart wants the last prayer you wrote to be the truth of my life.
May it be so for all of us.
Beautiful dear friend, beautiful!
This song has been playing in my head since visiting here early this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHleAMV5WSA
"My eyes are dry, my faith is old, my heart is hard, my prayers are cold. But I know how I ought to be, alive to You and dead to me."
Oh boy. That same verse leaped off the page right into my face! I too have used these words to point the finger at others who appear to be such hypocrits. Ugh. the hypocrit is ME. Joy...your blog today was amazing and hit home hard with me.
Lord, take away the me and fill it with You. My heart has been too far from you for way too long. Search me; convict me; fill me; restore me. The only thing I need is You.
Morgen
OOhh, Wendy! Poweful stuff, girlfriend! Stuff that makes you sit back and examine what you've said and done/not done lately. I too need make sure that my heart is aligned with God's and not my selfish desires. Thanks for this wonderful post!!
Hugs!
Susan
Wendy,
Thanks so much for today's post, it gives me alot to ponder as a toddler in my christian walk.
Genial brief and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you for your information.
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