Isaiah 29:14
Is Lip Service a Big Deal to God
A person who is not a Christian once asked why believers talk about God’s love but never His wrath. I thought about his question and realized I’m guilty of that very thing. Think about all the wonderful ways we look at God’s love, gentleness, and grace. Today, however, the context in which God’s actions are described as WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS is in reference to His judgment on people who claim His name, but simply give lip service to Him. God uses the prophet Isaiah to call them out in Isaiah 29:13-14. “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.'” He goes on to warn them about the consequences of lip service and rote worship. We might want to relegate God’s wrath to the Old Testament, but Revelation 16 speaks of God’s judgement being poured out on the earth in a future day. No doubt, God isn’t impressed with our lip service. Rather, our loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Lord, You alone are worthy of our praise. You extend mercy to those who call on Your name, but also discipline in WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS ways those who give You lip service and rote worship. Forgive us and prompt us daily to live by Your Spirit.
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Is Lip Service a Big Deal to God
A person who is not a Christian once challenged me and asked why believers talk about God’s love but never His wrath. I thought about his question, and realized that I’m guilty of that very thing. Think about all the wonderful ways we look at God’s love, gentleness, and favor. Today, however, the context in which God’s actions are described as WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS is a reference to His judgment on people who claim His name, but simply give lip service to Him. God uses the prophet Isaiah to call them out in Isaiah 29:13-14. “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.'” He goes on to warn them of the consequences of their lip service and rote worship. We might want to relegate our Creator’s wrath to the Old Testament, but Revelation 16 speaks of God’s judgement being poured out on the earth in a future day. We may wonder, “Is our behavior and sincerity of worship a big deal to God?” The answer is, clearly they are.
Lord, You alone are worthy of our praise. You extend mercy to those who call on Your name, but also discipline in WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS ways those who give You lip service and rote worship. Forgive us and prompt us daily to live by Your Spirit.
Get it NOW & journal your thanks to God for the best 2019!
Praise to Our WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS Lord
“I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous;…”
What is the context in which God’s actions are described as WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS? The prior verse explains. “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.'” “WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS” means “separate by distinguishing action, to do extraordinary or hard or difficult thing, beyond one’s power.”*
Lord, You alone are God, WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS. May our worship of You be in sincerity of heart and true reverence; not lip service.
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