Our best praise

Today we face a serious problem regarding the subject of worship to God, and it is that many times we do not clearly understand what true worship is. God confronted Israel about this very issue when He said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” This forces us to ask a very important question: How can someone honor God with their lips and yet not with their heart? Sadly, this is more common than we think. Many speak beautiful words, sing loudly, or show outward devotion, yet their heart remains distant from the Lord.

This reflection will be based on Matthew 4:23:

Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 4:23

Although this verse speaks of Jesus’ ministry, the theme behind our reflection connects to a conversation He later had with the Samaritan woman. There was a long-standing argument between Jews and Samaritans about the correct place to worship. The Jews insisted Jerusalem was the chosen place, while Samaritans argued for Mount Gerizim. But Jesus broke that barrier entirely. He revealed a deeper truth—one that has eternal significance. He essentially told the woman: “The time is coming when the physical location will no longer matter. What the Father seeks is worship that comes from the spirit and from the truth.”

Dear friend, Jesus is speaking about us. We are the ones whom the Father has called—by His sovereign grace—to worship Christ in spirit and in truth. And as true worshipers, we must understand what true worship really is. Worshiping God is not simply raising our hands, shouting Hallelujah, or displaying emotion. True worship is something deeper, something born in the heart and expressed through a life surrendered to God. Israel lifted their hands, sang their songs, and offered sacrifices, yet God rejected their worship because their hearts were far from Him.

A true worshiper is someone who presents his body as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). True worship is the fruit of a transformed heart. It begins inside—where God sees—and then manifests outwardly in obedience, holiness, love, and sincere devotion. True worship comes from a heart that treasures Christ above all things. Oh, dear brothers and sisters, may our praise be the praise of the heart and not mere words of the lips!

Let us remember that the Father Himself sought us for a purpose: that we would give Him pure worship. This is not optional; this is the calling of every redeemed soul. Therefore, let us worship the Father in spirit and in truth every moment of our lives—whether at home, at work, in church, or in solitude. Let us raise holy hands in any place and at any time, not as a ritual, but as the overflow of a heart truly surrendered to God.

May our lives be a continuous offering of genuine worship, pleasing to the Father who saved us and called us to glorify His name.