How can we ensure our worship aligns with God's desires, per Amos 5:5? The Heart of the Passage “Do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will come to nothing.” (Amos 5:5) Why God Said “Do Not Seek…” • Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba were once genuine worship sites, yet they had become centers of ritualism and compromise. • Israel kept the outward forms while tolerating idolatry and injustice (Amos 5:11-12). • God therefore redirected His people away from empty activity and back to Himself (Amos 5:4, 6). Principles for Worship That Pleases God • Seek the Person, not the place. “Seek Me and live!” (Amos 5:4). • Reject mere routine. Isaiah 1:13-15 exposes sacrifices without repentance. • Pursue righteousness and justice. “Let justice roll on like a river” (Amos 5:24). • Offer obedience over ceremony. 1 Samuel 15:22—“To obey is better than sacrifice.” • Worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24 shows God still longs for sincere hearts. • Present your whole life to God. Romans 12:1—true worship is “your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Practical Ways to Align Our Worship Today • Examine motives before gathering: Am I seeking God or a religious feeling? • Confess known sin quickly; don’t cloak it with songs or offerings (Psalm 66:18). • Let Scripture shape services—read it, preach it, sing it (Colossians 3:16). • Integrate justice and mercy: serve the poor, defend the vulnerable (Micah 6:8). • Guard against celebrity culture; exalt Christ alone (Colossians 1:18). • Cultivate private devotion so public praise overflows from a real walk (Matthew 6:6). • Celebrate Christ’s finished work at the cross—the only foundation for acceptable worship (Hebrews 10:19-22). Encouraging Outcomes of God-Centered Worship • Life and blessing replace dryness: “Seek Me and live!” (Amos 5:4). • Renewed intimacy with the Lord (James 4:8). • Unified, joy-filled congregations (Acts 2:46-47). • A credible witness to the watching world (John 13:35). |
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