OUR DAILY BREAD             Sunday, Aug. 6, 1995     
--------------- 
 
READ:  Amos 5:21-27    
 
                 
                  WASTED WORSHIP 
 
     "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, 
            a broken and a contrite heart." 
 
                                -- Psalm 51:17 
 
If you are able to go to church on Sunday, you  
probably will.  For most Christians, it's almost 
automatic -- and rightly so. 
 
But is it possible that our efforts to go to 
church for worship might be wasted?  Could it  
all be in vain? 
 
Yes.  Before we even enter the church, the worth 
of our worship can be reduced to nothing because 
of the way we've lived during the week. 
 
In Amos 5, the Lord had some harsh words for 
those who attempted to worship Him while bringing 
with them the guilt of an ungodly lifestyle.  His 
people were constantly angering Him by following 
false gods (v. 26).  When they assembled to  
worship the Lord through sacrifices and songs, 
God despised their hypocrisy. 
 
In Isaiah 1, God instructed His people that before 
they could worship Him, they were to "cease to do 
evil, learn to do good; seek justice" (vv. 16-17). 
 
What a challenge to us!  Before we worship God, we 
are to put things in order by confessing our sins, 
seeking His forgiveness, and then serving Him.   
Our daily walk with God and our obedience  to His  
commands are the elements that prepare us for  
church.  Anything less will lead to wasted worship. 
 
                                -- J. David Branon 
 
        O holy God, undone by guilt depressing 
       We come to Thee our every sin confessing; 
    Grant us, we pray, Thy cleansing and Thy blessing; 
                 We worship Thee, O God! 
 
                                -- Frost 
-------------------------------------------- 
             THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 
-------------------------------------------- 
          Worship that pleases God  
        comes from an obedient heart. 
-------------------------------------------- 
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 31-33

=============================================================
Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio 
Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. ODB files are 
being archived at ICLnet by arrangement with Radio Bible 
Class. RBC is presently developing its own servers and we 
look forward to RBC's official presence here on the internet 
in the near future. Written permission to distribute must be
obtained from Radio Bible Class. RBC provides a variety of 
Bible resources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded 
by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily 
from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or 
call 1-800-598-7221.

Thanks to Ken Foster for establishing the email list from 
which this copy of Our Daily Bread originated. A subscription 
is also available from the "ODB List".

RBC publications are also available at The Gospel Communica-
tions Network: http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/odb/.

- ICLnet
=============================================================


-------------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950806.txt

.