According to John 4:23, God is seeking. The fact that anyone seeks for anything implies that what they are looking for is either not available or unplentiful. So, what is it that God is looking for?
The answer...true worshippers..
The truth is, not everyone that goes to church is a true worshipper. Not everyone that keeps the church schedule is a true worshipper. Not everyone raised in church, not everyone that claims to be Christian, and for that matter claims to be a preacher or other worker in the house of God is a true worshipper.
There were many hypocrites in Jesus' day just as there are many in ours. Matthew 15:8-9 states, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
People go to church for many reasons and have different motives for doing so. Such motives can be:
- Habit
- Self-righteousness
- Spouse Hunting
- Social Fulfillment
- Extra curricular activity
- Sing in the Choir
- Perform in the Dance Ministry
- Perform as a musician
- Work in the mission field
- Perform charitable work
- and so on and so on....
You'll be surprised at why people come to church and not everyone that does is doing so explicitly for God. Many come to fulfill their obligation to man (their church leaders) and others come to save face with their more dedicated peers by not being absent.
You see, when it comes to God, every motive for doing what we do unto Him and for Him is examined before it is either accepted or rejected by the Lord.
The problem we have is that in doing what we do, we do not consider Him first - He is not the motive for doing what we do. We have other predominant motives that propel our labors, our dedication to the ministry, and our religious acts.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
This affirms that those who are familiar with church work are not secure, if they do not have a personal relationship with God. What we must understand is that relationship takes place in the heart and not in the action or behavior. For, actions are driven by many motives, but actions driven by the heart with all yielding unto God in a sincere relationship, are actions welcomed by the Lord because they are manifestations of knowing who He is.
You sing because you know and love Him (no other reason). You attend services because you want getting to know Him to be the focus of your coming (no other reason). You usher not because it's expected of you, but rather, because your relationship with the Lord compels you to render yourself in any way you can as a show of appreciation for what He has accomplished through Calvary's cross.
God, for so long has searched for the heart of men, but because the convenience of religion offers a person a justified conscience, we cannot delve deeper to actually know what God wants. We think that what we do is enough, but when ever the heart (the heart to know and love God) is absent from what ever it is that you do in the house of God, or for God, you should know that it is not seen in the heavens.
In this hour of God's seeking, will He find you? Will you be counted as a true worshipper, or will you be one of those in whom He says, "...depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
