Sacred Service That Is Unacceptable

In the days of ancient Israel, sacred service had to be rendered in harmony with Jehovah's Laws.  (Exodus 30:9; Leviticus 10:1, 2)  Likewise today, there are requirements to observe if our sacred service is to be acceptable to Jehovah.   That is why Paul wrote to the Colossians:  "We . . .have not ceased praying for you and asking that you might be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension,in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him as you go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9, 10)  It is not up to us to determine the proper way to worship God. Accurate Scriptural knowledge, spiritual comprehension and godly wisdom are vital. Otherwise, things can  go terribly wrong. 

Remember the Israelites in the days of Moses. We read:  "God turned and handed them over to render sacred service to the army of heaven." (Acts 7:42) Th0se Israelites had seen Jehovah's powerful acts in their behalf. Yet, they turned to other gods when they thought this would be their advantage.  They were not loyal, and loyalty is a must if our sacred service is to be pleasing to God.  (Psalm 18:25)  True, few today would turn from Jehovah to worship stars or golden calves, but there are other forms of idolatry. Jesus warned against serving "Riches," and Paul called covetousness idolatry.  (Matthew 6:24; Colossians 3:5) Satan promotes himself as a god. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Such kinds of idolatry are rampant and are a snare. Think, for example, of someone who claims to follow Jesus but whose real trust is in himself and his own ideas.  Who is he really serving? How different is he from the Jews of Isaiah's day who swore in Jehovah's name but credited his great act to unclean idols? -Isaiah 48:1, 5.

Jesus also warned:  "The hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God." (John 16:2)  Saul,who became the apostle Paul, doubtless thought that he was serving God when he 'approved the murder against the disciples of the Lord.' (Acts 8:1; 9:1)  Today, some perpetrators of ethnic cleansing and genocide also claim to worship God, but their worship is really directed to the gods of nationalism, tribalism, wealth, self, or some other deity. 

Jesus said:  "It is Jehovah,your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service." (Matthew 4:10) He was speaking to Satan, but how vital it is that all of us heed his words! Rendering sacred service to the Sovereign Lord of the universe is an elevated, fear-inspiring privilege. And what can be said about performing public service that is linked to our worship?  Doing this in behalf of our fellowman is a joyful work that brings great happiness.  (Psalm 41:1, 2; 59:16)  Still, such service brings  real happiness only if it is offered wholeheartedly and in the right way.  Who are really worshiping God properly?  Whose sacred service does Jehovah accept?  We can answer such questions if we consider the third Bible word that has to do with our worship. this we will do in the following article. 

Next time: WHO ARE GOD'S MINISTERS TODAY? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000