“And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.” (Isaiah 29:13, NLT)
In the beginning of the book of Isaiah, God challenged the commitment of the people of Israel to true faith. Without true faith, God saw no reason for the people to have a bright future full of hope and blessing. In Isaiah 1, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed how the people had rebelled against God by being sinful (1:2-5) and practicing evil (1:4) all the while acting like they were faithful and righteous (1:11-13). It was hypocrisy, no doubt. And yet, God longed for the people to repent and return to Him (1:27). The Lord God desired that they turn from their wicked ways and cleanse their hearts from sinfulness (1:18-20).
In our scripture for today, the Lord explained the crux of the matter. The people of Israel claimed they were children of God, but they only “honored God with their lips” (Isaiah 29:13). Deep in their hearts, the people of Israel did not obey God. Their worship was “nothing but man-made rules learned by rote”. The people of Israel were going through the motions with God, and God was not pleased.
Whenever people honor God or another with their lips only, there is always hypocrisy. Their commitment is not real. Their desire is not for a loving and committed relationship. They have ulterior motives. Sometimes, you can see the disconnect between their actions and their heart. A woman may smile with her mouth while her eyes remain cold or distant. A husband may hug his wife, but that hug will lack warmth or sincerity. The friend may put his arm around you while you sob, but the friend doesn’t really care. It’s all for show.
You may find it hard to believe that a husband or wife may be so callous as to hug without feeling, show counterfeit forms of love, or fake commitment. In a marriage that is in trouble or a relationship that is “going through the motions”, there are often signs of hypocrisy. Shouldn’t love be the basis of a marriage? Shouldn’t care and concern form the foundation of that relationship? And yet, the human heart can be duplicitous. On the outside, you may see signs of love or concern that are not present in heart and soul. In a marriage that is in trouble, true love may be all but missing.
When Steve and Cynthia came to see me about getting married, I was thrilled for them. They had been dating for two years. Their future looked bright together. They were faithful church members. They had many friends in the church. They seemed happy. The two had dated in high school, then broke up, then started dating again a few years later. Their families always pegged the two as “destined” for one another.
In our first pre-marital counseling session, we spoke about a variety of topics. As we talked about their wedding, I began to lead Steve and Cynthia through biblical understandings of family, marriage, children, and more. We made tentative plans for their wedding, including what music they desired and what vows they would make. As the two read through the wedding vows for the first time, I felt in my soul the first inkling that something was wrong. While reading their vows, I noticed subtle changes in the couple. I said a silent prayer to God asking for direction. I did not know where that prayer would lead us.
At the second pre-marital counseling session, I chose to talk about specific scriptures related to marriage and commitment. As we shared our thoughts about what it meant to love, honor, and obey God and each other, I noticed a shift in the demeanor of each. Steve became quieter. Cynthia became more animated about what she hoped for in their wedding festivities and plans. Have you ever felt God telling you something was wrong? I felt that exact thing. Somebody wasn’t telling the whole story.
At the third pre-marital counseling session, we continued to make plans for the wedding ceremony. I also had them stand and face each other while citing the vows so they could hear and understand the promises they were making. As they said the vows, I noticed Steve sometimes looked off in the distance. Then, he would focus back on Cynthia. Then, when Cynthia spoke her vows, I saw her eyes glued to Steve. She looked at him with a smile as if everything was right with the world. But everything was not right in the world. After the reading of the vows, I said “Steve, are you OK? Is there something you want to say?” Immediately, Cynthia spoke up saying, “I think Steve is just nervous, right Steve?” He nodded. I was not convinced.
A few weeks later, everything fell apart. Come to find out, when the two broke up, Cynthia moved in with another man. She got pregnant six months later and then aborted the child. When that relationship fell apart, Cynthia came back to Steve. After a year of dating, Cynthia told Steve about the abortion. Steve was terribly shaken up. Then, it came out that the only reason the two were getting married was that Cynthia was pregnant, this time with Steve’s baby. Steve offered to marry Cynthia to “man up” to his responsibility. It didn’t take long, however, to notice that Steve wasn’t marrying Cynthia out of love but out of obligation. AND he had regrets about Cynthia having an abortion. AND Steve had commitment issues. It was a terrible mess. The two decided to postpone the wedding until they worked through all the issues.
On the outside, Steve and Cynthia had an enviable relationship. They had dated for years. They were comfortable around each other. They were members of the church. Their families were very close. The two seemed “destined” for one another. In their hearts, however, Steve and Cynthia had a whole different set of commitment issues and regrets. On the outside, they smiled and held hands. On the inside, there were insecurities and fears and hurts and unspoken desires.
You may look at what happened with Steve and Cynthia and wonder why they put up an act of being so in love. Well, I’ve seen many people who did the same with respect to God. On the outside, they looked faithful. They worshipped regularly, gave generously in offerings, even worked hard in the church. However, some of those people did it all for show. They were religious but not faithful to God. They followed the Ten Commandments and memorized the Lord’s Prayer and attended worship, but they never had a committed relationship with Jesus Christ. For many of them, church was a social activity or comfortable habit. Most enjoyed the friendships at church. Some liked the stability that regular worship offered. But they were going through the motions. Their heart wasn’t in it. If God wanted them to leave their comfort zone, they resisted. If a person at church rubbed them wrong, there was no forgiveness or grace. Everything at church was a social transaction. Each heart was not really in a committed relationship with Jesus Christ.
Are there insecurities you hide from others? Do you fake a smile when you want to be liked or loved? Are there issues that have gone on too long that need to be worked through with God? Do you have doubts about faith that you hide from others? Do you care more about what others think than about doing right by God?
My hope is that you can be honest with God. I would love for you to praise and love God with “all your heart and mind and soul and strength”! Blessings pour out for those willing to be honest and forthright with God. It may not be easy, but it is faithful!
In our scripture for today, the Lord explained the crux of the matter. The people of Israel claimed they were children of God, but they only “honored God with their lips” (Isaiah 29:13). Deep in their hearts, the people of Israel did not obey God. Their worship was “nothing but man-made rules learned by rote”. The people of Israel were going through the motions with God, and God was not pleased.
Whenever people honor God or another with their lips only, there is always hypocrisy. Their commitment is not real. Their desire is not for a loving and committed relationship. They have ulterior motives. Sometimes, you can see the disconnect between their actions and their heart. A woman may smile with her mouth while her eyes remain cold or distant. A husband may hug his wife, but that hug will lack warmth or sincerity. The friend may put his arm around you while you sob, but the friend doesn’t really care. It’s all for show.
You may find it hard to believe that a husband or wife may be so callous as to hug without feeling, show counterfeit forms of love, or fake commitment. In a marriage that is in trouble or a relationship that is “going through the motions”, there are often signs of hypocrisy. Shouldn’t love be the basis of a marriage? Shouldn’t care and concern form the foundation of that relationship? And yet, the human heart can be duplicitous. On the outside, you may see signs of love or concern that are not present in heart and soul. In a marriage that is in trouble, true love may be all but missing.
When Steve and Cynthia came to see me about getting married, I was thrilled for them. They had been dating for two years. Their future looked bright together. They were faithful church members. They had many friends in the church. They seemed happy. The two had dated in high school, then broke up, then started dating again a few years later. Their families always pegged the two as “destined” for one another.
In our first pre-marital counseling session, we spoke about a variety of topics. As we talked about their wedding, I began to lead Steve and Cynthia through biblical understandings of family, marriage, children, and more. We made tentative plans for their wedding, including what music they desired and what vows they would make. As the two read through the wedding vows for the first time, I felt in my soul the first inkling that something was wrong. While reading their vows, I noticed subtle changes in the couple. I said a silent prayer to God asking for direction. I did not know where that prayer would lead us.
At the second pre-marital counseling session, I chose to talk about specific scriptures related to marriage and commitment. As we shared our thoughts about what it meant to love, honor, and obey God and each other, I noticed a shift in the demeanor of each. Steve became quieter. Cynthia became more animated about what she hoped for in their wedding festivities and plans. Have you ever felt God telling you something was wrong? I felt that exact thing. Somebody wasn’t telling the whole story.
At the third pre-marital counseling session, we continued to make plans for the wedding ceremony. I also had them stand and face each other while citing the vows so they could hear and understand the promises they were making. As they said the vows, I noticed Steve sometimes looked off in the distance. Then, he would focus back on Cynthia. Then, when Cynthia spoke her vows, I saw her eyes glued to Steve. She looked at him with a smile as if everything was right with the world. But everything was not right in the world. After the reading of the vows, I said “Steve, are you OK? Is there something you want to say?” Immediately, Cynthia spoke up saying, “I think Steve is just nervous, right Steve?” He nodded. I was not convinced.
A few weeks later, everything fell apart. Come to find out, when the two broke up, Cynthia moved in with another man. She got pregnant six months later and then aborted the child. When that relationship fell apart, Cynthia came back to Steve. After a year of dating, Cynthia told Steve about the abortion. Steve was terribly shaken up. Then, it came out that the only reason the two were getting married was that Cynthia was pregnant, this time with Steve’s baby. Steve offered to marry Cynthia to “man up” to his responsibility. It didn’t take long, however, to notice that Steve wasn’t marrying Cynthia out of love but out of obligation. AND he had regrets about Cynthia having an abortion. AND Steve had commitment issues. It was a terrible mess. The two decided to postpone the wedding until they worked through all the issues.
On the outside, Steve and Cynthia had an enviable relationship. They had dated for years. They were comfortable around each other. They were members of the church. Their families were very close. The two seemed “destined” for one another. In their hearts, however, Steve and Cynthia had a whole different set of commitment issues and regrets. On the outside, they smiled and held hands. On the inside, there were insecurities and fears and hurts and unspoken desires.
You may look at what happened with Steve and Cynthia and wonder why they put up an act of being so in love. Well, I’ve seen many people who did the same with respect to God. On the outside, they looked faithful. They worshipped regularly, gave generously in offerings, even worked hard in the church. However, some of those people did it all for show. They were religious but not faithful to God. They followed the Ten Commandments and memorized the Lord’s Prayer and attended worship, but they never had a committed relationship with Jesus Christ. For many of them, church was a social activity or comfortable habit. Most enjoyed the friendships at church. Some liked the stability that regular worship offered. But they were going through the motions. Their heart wasn’t in it. If God wanted them to leave their comfort zone, they resisted. If a person at church rubbed them wrong, there was no forgiveness or grace. Everything at church was a social transaction. Each heart was not really in a committed relationship with Jesus Christ.
Are there insecurities you hide from others? Do you fake a smile when you want to be liked or loved? Are there issues that have gone on too long that need to be worked through with God? Do you have doubts about faith that you hide from others? Do you care more about what others think than about doing right by God?
My hope is that you can be honest with God. I would love for you to praise and love God with “all your heart and mind and soul and strength”! Blessings pour out for those willing to be honest and forthright with God. It may not be easy, but it is faithful!