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I was working at a rescue mission a few years ago when someone had the idea of doing a car-wash with the guys at the homeless shelter. The earnings from the car wash would go towards a day trip for the guys. We were offering an exterior wash, vacuum and tire shine for a total of just $10. Lots of people came and supported us, but there were two people, specifically, who I’ve never been able to forget.
I remember it like it was yesterday. We were sitting outside, waiting on customers to arrive, when I heard a car turn into the parking lot, blasting worship music. My first thought was, “Wow! We have a Christian lady coming!” I was 100% positive that she would support the guys in what we were doing.
As she rolled down her window, smiling from ear to ear, singing about God, she whispers to me, “I really appreciate what y'all are doing here, but since you know me, can I get half off?”
I was shocked! How could you be singing about God and try to rip off homeless people at the same time? I was so disappointed. To make matters worse, the guys told me, “Don’t worry, we will wash her car for free.”
I was feeling sick to my stomach when I noticed another car pulling up. This guy was blasting vulgar rap music that made even me, an avid hip hop fan , feel uncomfortable. He hopped out of his car smelling like weed and says, “I love what you’re doing here. Let the guys wash my car, and I’ll tip everyone $20.”
As I compared the two interactions, a question arose in my mind — who was that woman actually singing to? Is it possible to praise and worship God, but not do anything He says? Or would your praise and worship be meaningless?
We see in the Bible that if you are praying in tongues, yet have no love, it’s the same as you banging loud instruments.
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]." - 1 Corinthians 13:1 AMP
Would today's praise and worship be considered the same?
There are multiple scriptures that say that people with demons bowed down and worshipped Jesus, proclaiming that He is the Son of God.
"When the man with the demon saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and worshiped Him." Mark 5:6 NLV
"Demons also were coming out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)." - Luke 4:41 AMP
And the Pharisees and Sadducees who claimed to love God and most likely sung about him daily ended up killing His son, Jesus.
In today's Christianity, we see many people singing, but few people with the heart of Jesus, Himself.
The interesting thing is, there aren’t many scriptures that indicate that the disciples worshipped Jesus with their mouths. However, all of them left everything for Him, and many of them ended up dying for Him. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified upside down, not feeling worthy to die in the same manner as his Savior. Andrew was also crucified and Matthew was stabbed to death. Although John lived the longest, he was imprisoned on an island for many years and escaped being thrown into burning oil. I don’t recall many, if any, passages of them expressing their love for Jesus through songs sung to Him. But we do see evidence of their devotion through them sacrificing everything in their lives.
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” - Matthew 19:27 NIV
It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. - Acts 12:1-4 NIV
"29Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” "41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." - Acts 5:29-32, 41-42 NIV
Question of the day: Are you devoted to singing the will of God or doing the will of God?
Another thought: Do we know Jesus and His disciples for their songs or for their obedience?
”These people honor me only with their words, for their hearts are so very distant from me. They pretend to worship me, but their worship is nothing more than the empty traditions of men.”“ - Matthew 15:8-9 TPT