Is Your Faith More Than Lip Service?
Talking the Talk But Not Walking the Walk
We use words to honor, praise, worship, and give thanksgiving to God; however, God is displeased with such when He knows our hearts are far from Him. God desires heartfelt worship, not empty religious words. Your words are only a pretense of intimacy when your heart is not His. Jesus emphasized this fact in Marks’s Gospel while speaking with a group of religious leaders:
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ (Mark 7:6-7)
For worship to be acceptable, our hearts must first be transformed by the Holy Spirit through repentance and regeneration. We must be fully committed to God in both words and actions. Jesus’ role in our lives is not only as Savior but as Lord of our lives. In Luke 6:46 Jesus asks, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
When our hearts are fully surrendered to God, Jesus will be the Lord of our lives. He will lead us and guide us in all things and we will passionately aim to please Him in words and actions. There must exist a level of active intimacy between you and God in order for your heart to be God’s throne. After all, Christians belong to God. The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” Someone said long ago, “Either Jesus is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.”
There are many today who consider themselves to be part of the body of Christ, but they are not of Christ but of the world. Their hearts are not surrendered to Christ but love and follow the world. The apostle John tells us:
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[d] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
The apostle Paul wrote to his spiritual son Titus concerning a group of religious people (believers) whose lifestyles and actions contradicted their profession of faith.
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:16
We are all familiar with people who use words, promises, and conversations to manipulate, mislead and deceive others. They conjure up the appropriate language to say just the thing you need to hear. Their words are tools to achieve or acquire a desired result. They traffic in flattery and insincerity. Many people have suffered much pain from these hypocritical liars.
Perhaps now you can understand how God must feel when people profess belief and faith in God but by their actions prove their hearts are far from Him. There are many whose actions and lifestyles are diametrically disobedient to God’s word but are convinced God is buying into their lip service—He is not. That lip service stuff may fool people but not God. It is a deadly delusion with everlasting consequences.
It is not what you say, but what you say and do that defines who you really are and where you stand with God. Jesus said in John 4:23-24 that God is seeking true worshipers who would worship the Father in spirit and truth. If your heart is not committed to God your worship is a lie and certainly not from your spirit. Your words spoken to honor God are unacceptable to God because you have withheld your heart from Him. We used to say they talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.
God desires true repentance and a heart that is surrendered to Him. He is not impressed by your words or that you believe He exists. He desires you to turn your heart over to Him completely and withhold nothing. Anything less is lip service.
How to Turn to God
Perhaps at this very moment, you have realized that you need the Lord in your life. Maybe you drifted away or need to be born again? If so, you can stop right now and begin talking to God. Ask Him to forgive you for being a sinner and for the life you have been living outside of His love. Surrender your life to Him, unconditionally. Call Him Lord and make Him Lord of every thought, attitude, and action. You can say, Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins and come into my heart and take full control of my life. I am your child from this day forward. Change my heart and mind to be Christ-like in every way. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior forever.
