Spirit and truth

"Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths. For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house." -- Ezekiel 23:38-39

How far will hypocrisy take someone? Will anyone really participate in idolatry on the very same day they come to worship at church? Is it possible to carry on in gross sin during the early hours and then appear before the Lord as if all is spiritually well? Great displeasure and wrath was poured out because such was the case for Israel.

Strong and harsh were the words of this passage, but they came from a deeply offended God. And for our thought, are such things possible for us today? We may not slaughter our children before Sunday worship service, but do we sacrifice them and ourselves to other forms of idolatry? How caught into the world of materialism are we? Does the pursuit of pleasure take first place in our lives? Are our hearts right with the Lord and others in our lives? Or do we attend church as an obligation to sooth the conscience, so we can live any way we want the rest of the week?  

Don't be too self-righteous my friend. Worship is a serious matter and the Lord looks for those who will worship Him in  "spirit and truth" (John 4:24) As you come to worship this morning, prepare your heart and be sure that your walking in the Spirit before you attend and then enter the week planning to worship the Lord with all your heart every day.