Matthew 15:8 (NIV) “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’”

One of the things that we as people do that no one likes is saying things that we don't really mean. We all do that at one time or another but if someone does it a little too often, we mark that person in our minds as someone that we do not trust. When they say that they will meet you somewhere or will help with anything, we nod in acknowledgement but inside, we know that they probably will not show up. When anyone tells you how much they love and care for you but don't follow that up with any action, we don't believe that they really do. When people talk but we realize that their heart is not in what they are saying, we say that they are giving us lip service. Words are coming out of their mouth, but the words have no affect and no real meaning. We generally avoid people like that. That makes me think about why we would ever try that same thing with God.

Many people on many different occasions give lip service to God. They talk a big game, but their words are empty and hollow. They may have learned how to say the right words to God because they went to church semi-regularly or because they learned the words from their mother of father, but they are just words coming from their lips with no substance behind them. In other words, they don't mean what they say. Although you may get away with empty words when you are dealing with other people (although not for long), it makes no sense whatsoever trying to do that with God. God not only hears your words, but He also sees your heart. It doesn't even end there. God hears your words, knows your heart and even knows the motivation and the thoughts behind the empty words, and He rejects them. God is looking for people who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and He has no patience for lip service. A lot of people who are "religious" spew a lot of empty words. Even their prayers many times are lip service and a total waste of breath. Their words are empty and expose hearts that are far from God.

Since God knows our hearts, its best to be totally honest with Him. Come clean with Him. Tell Him what you really feel in your heart. You may be disappointed in something that He allowed in your life or upset at something that you prayed for that didn't happen. Instead of giving God lip service and saying ritualistic prayers that go nowhere, why not just bare your heart to the God who made you and who loves you. Tell Him exactly what you feel. He wants honesty from us. Let's not waste time giving God lip service, but let’s talk to God with words that come from our hearts first before going out from our lips so that we can continue to grow and get closer to God in an intimate and meaningful relationship. Let the praise and honor that come from our lips and go out to God come from a heart not far away, but one that is knit to Him in love and adoration. Those are the words that He will readily receive.

Pastor Joey Vazquez