Around a month ago we started looking at what it means to return to the heart of worship. I hope by now you will see what God is looking for and that God is looking at your heart of worship and not your lips. Because of this inspection of the heart we must look intently into our own hearts and make sure that we are blameless before him. Psalm 119:1 “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” We in this day, where much of the church has fallen away from the truth, must make sure that we are returning to him with everything we have. We are to Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength.” God makes it clear to us throughout his word that we are “to humble ourselves and pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways” (2 Chronicles 7).
Our focus for everything we do should be on Jesus. Hebrews 10 gives us a call to persevere in faith. “19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Paul says Romans 13:11 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Remember he said that a long time ago. If many were sleeping then; how many now? Jesus gave us this story to be ready found in Matthew 25:5 “The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” It is very easy to set our sights on the present and forget that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. We must be expectant and prepared for His return. Advent is now over but its meaning still rings true. The already but not yet is how we are to live. Just as Jesus came once he is coming again. Are you ready to meet him?
