SERVING GOD RIGHTLY And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is betterthan sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22).
The Lord Jesus, in John 4:23, outlines true worship as that which is done in spirit and in truth. There’s no other way. Serving the Lord has to be from your spirit and according to His Word. His Word provides the guidance, the prescribed order of service and worship in the Kingdom.
You don’t give God what you choose or just what you like; you give Him what He has asked for, in the way that He asked for it. You serve Him according to His demands, not according to your feelings oremotions. There’re people who say, “Everyone can serve God in His own way!” That’s not true. When you study the Bible, you’d find that those who tried to serve God in their own way got killed or rebuked by God.
Genesis 4 tells us the story of Cain and Abel: two brothers who brought their offerings to the Lord. Cain brought an offering of his choice, while Abel brought what God asked to be offered. Abel’s offering was accepted, but Cain’s sacrifice was rejected. In Genesis 4:7, seeing that Cain was angry, the Lord rebuked him saying, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted….”
How about Moses, who, instead of talking to the rock, struck the rock? Water came out, and the people drank to their fill, but God was displeased and rebuked Moses (Numbers 20:1-12, Deuteronomy4:21-22). Uzzah was killed when he tried to render service to God by stabilizing the stumbling Ark of God at Nachon’s threshing floor (2 Samuel 6:6-7).
If you want to serve God right, give more attention to studying the Scriptures. He’ll grant you the wisdom and insight of the Spirit on how to serve Him truly, with a pure heart and a willing mind.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I worship you in spirit and in truth. I love you with all my heart and will study your Word to walk always in your truth to serve you accordingly, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Chronicles 28:9; John 4:23-24
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 11:1-13 & Judges 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 8:1-11 & Psalm 109
