Is Lip Service a Big Deal to God?

A person who is not a Christian once asked me why believers talk about God’s love but never His wrath. I thought about his question and realized that I had been guilty of that very thing. While it is important to recognize God’s love, gentleness, and favor, it is also important to consider the context in which God’s actions are described as wondrously marvelous. The description is in regard to His judgment of people who give lip service to Him rather than truly worship Him.

God uses the prophet Isaiah to call out these people. “Then the Lord said, ‘Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, therefore, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous,'” Isaiah 29:13-14.

God warns the people through the prophet Isaiah of the consequences of their lip service and rote worship.

While we might want to confine the LORD’s wrath and judgment to the Old Testament, Revelation 16 speaks of a future day in which God’s judgment will be poured out on those who reject Christ. 

In case we wonder if God notices our worship and if it is done in sincerity from a heart of love or if we merely give God lip service and rote worship, the answer is, “Yes. God notices.”

Lord, You alone are worthy to be praised in sincerity and truth. You extend mercy to anyone who calls on You, but are WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS in Your discipline of those who give You lip service and rote worship.

One of the ways we can avoid giving lip service to God is by listening to and being led by His Spirit. If you’d like to learn more, listen to this free podcast teaching: Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.