ENOUGH OF THESE NOISES

"And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul" (Acts 16:13-14). 

While talking with the Samaritan woman, Jesus announced that God is seeking genuine worshippers, people who will be willing to worship God in spirit and in truth. He also declared that the hour has come when those who worship God MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth. By statements, Jesus is saying enough of all the noise making we call worship. Away with all the vain worship that uses the styles of the world and principles that exalts man in the presence of the Almighty God. 

Our Bible verses for today reveal that there were many women gathered in that place of prayer. Paul and his company went there in search of those who worshipped God so they could share the word of God with them. But of all the people there, Lydia was the only one they found as a worshipper of God. The congregation was large, no doubt, but the worshippers were few. The singing was perhaps loud, boisterous and melodious, but it never got to God. Does this not look like what we have around us today in the name of religious worship? 

The time has come for us to learn that consistency in church in church services is not equivalent to being a worshipper of God. We have to accept that being an elder or pastor of the church would not turn you into a worshipper. This generation must come to know that trendy music is not what makes true worshippers. Who then is a worshipper? 

The spirit of a true worshipper is alive to God. God is the focus of his worship and he worships God simply for who He is. And because his spirit is ever alive before God, he lives a life of worship both when he is in the house of worship or out of the place of worship. He worships God in spirit and in truth. He is ever attentive to the word of God. He treasures it and his heart is ever open to it, just like it was reported of Lydia. His heart is pliable before the Lord. And then of course, a genuine worshipper has utmost reverence for God and holds God's servants in high honour, not really because of who they are, but because of the Almighty God they represent. 

Finally, true worshippers brings others into true worship. The Samaritan woman is a clear example. Having heard the message on true worship from the Master, her next line of activity was to call on others to come and experience same. She did it so well that her entire city was brought to listen to Jesus. As for Lydia, she made her home available for the ministers of God to contribute her quota to the spread of true worship. 

I pray that the Lord will visit us once again and lead His church in the path of true worship.