Chapter 5 - WHOSE WORSHIP DOES GOD ACCEPT?

WHOLE-SOULED WORSHIP

 In your heart, you may want to worship God acceptably.  If so, you must have Jehovah's view of worship.  The disciple James emphasized that it is God's viewpoint that is important, not ours, James said:  'The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this:  "to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world."  (James 1:27)  With a desire to please God, each of us needs to examine our worship to make sure that it is not contaminated by ungodly practices or that we are not omitting something that he considers vital. -James 1:26..

Only clean, whole-souled worship pleases Jehovah.  (Matthew 22:37; Colossians 3:23) When the nation of Israel gave God less than that, he said:  "A son, for his part, honors a father;  and a servant, his grand master.  So if I am a father, where is the honor tome?  And if I am a grand master, where is the fear of me?"  They were offending God by offering him blind, lame and sick animals in sacrifice, and he rejected such acts of worship.  (Malachi 1:6-8) Jehovah is worthy of the purest form  of worship and accepts nothing less than exclusive devotion. -Exodus 20:5; Proverbs 3:9; Revelation 4:11.

The Samaritan woman who spoke with Jesus was seemingly interested in worshiping God in the divinely approved way.  If that is our desire, we will avoid all contaminating teachings and practices.  (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) Instead, we will exert ourselves to get an accurate knowledge of God and do his will.  We will adhere closely to his requirements for acceptable worship.  (1 Timothy 2:3, 4) Jehovah's Witnesses are striving to do just that, and they warmly urge you to share with them in worshiping God "with spirit and truth."  (John 4:24)  Jesus said: "The Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him."  (John 4:23) It is hoped that you are such a person.  Like that Samaritan woman, undoubtedly you would like to have everlasting life.  (John 4:13-15) But you see people grow old and die.  The next chapter explains why.

Next time: WHY DO WE GROW OLD AND DIE?

The Book - KNOWLEDGE That Leads To Everlasting Life, 1995