Have you ever found yourself running through the routines of life without much thought put into it? You know you hustle into class with your attention a mile away? Or with a thousand different things on your mind. You hope the preacher hasn’t prepared one of those long sermons. You have a softball game to get to, a picnic planned, a bike ride, or an afternoon at the lake. All good family activities.
I suppose we have all done that at one time or another. Life can be hard to leave at the door on Sunday mornings. Our minds are cluttered with distractions. But can I challenge you to take a moment and breath, and to slow down and ask God to help you prepare. Before you head out the door, or maybe in the car, ask God to help you get ready for worship. Simply say, Lord thank you for loving me. Thank you for carrying me when I couldn’t stand. Lord, thank you for saving my marriage, and thank you for giving me my job. Father, thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for walking with me through the valley of death when my enemy was all around. Thank you for carrying the load when I couldn’t. These simple words will help you dump the things in life that aren’t really that important. And when you arrive at the doors of the building, you will be ready to help others see what God has done for them. If they need a shoulder to cry on, you’ll be ready. If they need someone to rejoice with, you got it. And your Father in heaven will smile down from heaven and accept your worship as a sweet aroma. Not because of perfection or imperfections, but because of an honest heart.
No God is not seeking perfectionist. Or those who think they can do it on their own. He’s seeking an honest and pure heart. In Matthew 15:8 we read of those whom Jesus said, “’These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”. Church let’s check ourselves this morning, and make sure we are not just giving God lip service but that our hearts are fully engaged. Then our sacrifices will be acceptable and rise before Him as a sweet aroma. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
