Subject: Embracing True Worship in the Presence of God (06/17/'24) -Message

Subject: Embracing True Worship in the Presence of God The Sacred Booth: Encountering True Worship Dear Friends, In the quiet moments when our souls are still, genuine worship in spirit and in truth emerges. It is not the clatter of offerings or the ritualistic march to the altar that God seeks, but an overwhelming sense of reverence in His presence. "Surely God is in this place!" echoes in the heart that knows true worship. God’s voice cuts through the noise of empty sacrifices: "Do you think I want all these sacrifices you keep offering to me? Who asked you to bring me all this when you come to worship me? Who asked you to do all this tramping around in my Temple?" The divine disgust is palpable. "It's useless to bring your offerings. I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn. I cannot stand your Festivals, your Sabbaths, and your religious gatherings; they are corrupted by your sins...they are a burden that I am tired of bearing." In the heart of this rebuke, a call to purity rings out: "Wash yourselves clean. Stop all this evil that I see you doing. Yes, stop doing evil and learn to do right." True worship is found not in the ritual, but in the transformation of the heart and the turning away from sin. In our troubles, God’s help is a beacon, so that we might extend the same help to others. As we share in Christ's sufferings, we are enveloped in God's great help, a cycle of divine compassion and grace. In this space, genuine worship flourishes. It is a sanctuary built on reverence and righteousness, a place where the soul can cry out, "Surely God is in this place!" Here, amidst the quiet and the sacred, true worship ascends, carried on the wings of a heart purified by divine love and grace. The essence of worship is not in the offerings we bring but in the purity of our hearts and the righteousness of our actions. In the presence of God, we find our true selves, and in that sacred booth, we encounter the divine. Blessings, Pastor Steven G. Lee (June 17, 2024)