Jan
28
In Spirit
Filed Under Devotional
Actions of value are not things that can be described in a step-by-step list. You cannot diagram the meaningful. Doing so sucks all of the power out of the event. Just try reading a newspaper article about a dramatic play to win the game as time ran out. Try reading a history book about the turning point of a battle. We have to stretch our imagination to feel the emotion and power of the moment.
We can take the same steps and go through the exact same motions as these people and not achieve the same impact. This is because it’s not the action that makes the moment profound, it’s your spirit.
The Pharisees never quite got that:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.” Matthew 23:27
There is no value in sacrifice, worship, or prayer if it’s performed like one follows a checklist. Doing the motions perfectly doesn’t win style points. There’s no power in the dance if we’re just following the shoe prints on the floor.
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
We perform certain ceremonies and actions to demonstrate our obedience, but it is not the actions themselves that draw us nearer to God. It is our spirit and the truth of our desire to serve Him that allows Him to draw near to us.
So, forget perfecting the right steps and worship truthfully and with your whole spirit.