Isaiah 29:13-14 “... this people draw near to me with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.”

 

Have you ever known someone who speaks nice words to your face, but then gossips about you behind your back? This is not a good feeling. The sweet words lose their sweetness because you don’t really know what the person is thinking.

An experience like this will cause you forever afterward to consider the offender’s words untrustworthy and to cautiously weigh their motives. Their flattery loses its appeal.

We don’t always know the integrity of those who compliment us. Some may be charming because they want us to purchase their product. Others may be fishing for information. And still others may want to fit in with our crowd for the moment.

Whatever the reason, this type of attention is worthless. The difference between this person and someone who genuinely likes us and seeks to encourage us with words of praise is huge.

We are not the only ones who do not like this kind of relationship. God also despises it. The prophet Isaiah exposes a people who draw near to God with lip service but remove their hearts from Him. These so-called worshippers piously recite memorized liturgy, sing praise songs with gusto, and act the part of a committed follower, all while their hearts are deeply attached to other pursuits.

Observing from the outside, all seems fine. But affectionate words with faulty motives cannot be hidden from God.

He is not deceived by the fickleness of men, and his eyes penetrate the deepest places of the heart to root out the truth.

Nothing escapes the eye of our Creator. He knows our hearts like the back of His hand and is not pleased when someone tries to hide their plans from Him.

You will not always know what lies behind someone’s sweet words and actions. Most will be genuine and others not so much. But this is not your main concern. There is One from Whom nothing can be hidden. It is more important to consider your own motives for what you do and say before Him.

Are you going through the motions of worship devoid of a heart committed to God’s ways? Is your praise of Him spoken with meaningless memorized words? Or does everything you do or say flow from a heart that is committed to loving and obeying the Lord at all costs?

Don’t try to kid yourself. Heart service is worth much more than lip service. God can’t be fooled.

Sandra Sheridan is a Midwest wife and mother of five. She shares her messages to her children with Farm World. Visit her at www.VersesFromMama.com