There’s much talk about worship these days.  Every believer appears to have an opinion about worship. I believe this discussion is healthy and Amos reminds us of a vital component to true worship and that’s compassion.  The style of our worship is not as important as if our life is marked by good deeds. A church can sing hymns or choruses, but if they don’t have compassion and good deeds, then the worship they offer is rejected by the one that receives it. Pray this prayer with me that we will add compassion and good deeds to our worship.

Prayer

Father, help us to offer worship that is pleasing to You. You want more than singing and dancing and a gift in the offering.  You desire justice!  So stir our hearts, to offer You true worship that provides service to the poor, the widow, the slave, the prisoner, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked and the homeless (Matthew 25:31-46).  Let our acts of compassion roll like a river.  Let us offer worship that is woven into obedience because anything less than obedience is self-made, self-centered, and self-created religion. You reject this man-centered worship. If we engage in this false religion, the end result is bondage.  So we pray our lives will be marked by true worship, and we pray this real worship will free the oppressed around us in the name of Jesus, the King of the Kingdom.

Amos 5:21-27

“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! “Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god—which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.

CRAZY KINGDOM

I have a book called Crazy Kingdom.  Some people say it is “Crazy Good.” If you’d like a hard copy, then you can get one from my website. I’ve just reduced the price!  If you’re outside the US or you prefer digital, then I would go with Amazon. Still not sold on the idea of getting my books?!  You can read the Introduction and chapter 1 by clicking on the links within this sentence.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN…

…be sure to like my Facebook page Royal Perspectives, and if you would register at this site then that would be awesome. Publishers appear to really like such things as this. If you want to hear me preach, then you can listen on SoundCloud or onYoutube!