Our bodies are very adaptive. We quickly adjust to new things that at first are strange. If you keep repeating the same process you will adjust to it until it becomes a very normal thing.
That explains why you can adjust to things that at first you react to, such as curry, chilli, bitter flavours and so on. The more you eat them the more your body gets used to them. In the end you may be eating a wide range of foods you didn’t like in the smallest dose initially.
New clothes might feel a little strange, but over time they feel familiar. Your ears tend to turn off to sounds constantly going in the background, such as road or machinery noise. We are amazingly adaptive to things that at first seem strange.
At the same time we can also adapt to routines and find ourselves just going through the motions. We develop habits, and some things we do without even thinking.
You may have had the experience of going somewhere familiar and not remembering any of the journey. Your mind was on something else and you travelled by autopilot, doing everything right, unconsciously.
There is nothing wrong with doing the right things unconsciously, except when it is meant to be done purposefully and with heart.
The Israelites were given religious rituals by God. These were things to be done in worship of God. However the hearts of the people often abandoned God, even though they still went through their rituals. The practice of religion became empty to them.
The prophet Isaiah was sent to challenge the people that God had no delight in their religious duties, since the people were corrupt and evil and their religion was meaningless to them.
“What do all your sacrifices mean to me? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened beasts.” Isaiah 1:11
“When you spread out your hands I will hide my eyes from you; and though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.” Isaiah 1:15
The same issue is brought up in other places, such as the Psalms.
“To the wicked God says What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.” Psalm 50:16,17
We see here hypocrisy, where the people go through the religious duties, but their heart is set on evil. They make a show of being religious, but their heart is not turned to God.
We might be tempted to excuse these people, by saying they had done the rituals so often over so many years that they forgot what it really stood for. But God is not so generous. Why? Because God sees our heart and that is where He focuses, not on our actions.
“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” 2Chronicles 16:9
“I the Lord search the heart, I try the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10
God has things he wants us to do, like the religious obligations for Israel in the Old Testament. But they are secondary to our heart condition.
So if our actions are ‘empty’, without heart, they are offensive to God.
Consider the people Jesus saw giving money in the Temple. Rich people made a show of putting in large amounts, but a poor widow woman dropped two almost worthless coins into the box.
In human terms the large offering was impressive, since the larger amount could do more things. But Jesus saw the heart of the giver. It was of little consequence for those who were rich to give large amounts. They had plenty left over. The widow woman gave everything she had.
Which one was giving the greater worship to God?
Obviously it was the widow, who put herself at risk to make her offering.
God is not against our religious actions. He wants us to do all the things a worshipper would do. That includes attending church meetings and being with Christians. It includes prayer, fasting and giving. It includes caring for the needy. It includes reading God’s word, the Bible.
Yet for people who have done those things all their life, it is possible to go to church, sing the songs, read the Bible readings, put money in the plate and have lovely chats with people, but have an empty heart toward God. It is possible to do all those things and be bitter, jealous, resentful, selfish, proud, lustful, unforgiving and so on.
One of the religious things people did in old times, when there were problems, was to appear humble, by tearing their clothes and putting ashes on their head. Note what God said about that through the prophet Joel.
“Tear your heart, not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and turns away from evil.” Joel 2:13
Again we see that God is looking at the heart. And He is looking at your heart. So, with all the wonderful things you do that should please the Lord, I challenge you to awaken your heart as you do them.
Open your heart as you hear the preaching, read the Bible and sing the songs. Open your heart as you pray or join in the prayers of others. Give with a willing heart and as an act of worship and trust in God. Talk with and encourage others, as a child of God seeking to bless them. Cleanse your heart of things that are offensive to God. Humbly give Him those things you can’t overcome. Seek help from spiritual leaders to break evil things that seem to be stuck in your life.
Worship God in spirit and in truth, as God wants you to.
“The hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father seeks such to worship Him.” John 4:23
And worship God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30
And from this moment on, abandon in your life any and all Empty Rituals.
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