WHOSE WORSHIP DOES GOD ACCEPT?

KEEP GOD'S HIGH STANDARDS

God wants as his worshipers those who comply with his high moral standards.  Some in ancient Corinth mistakenly thought that God would tolerate immoral behavior. We can see how wrong they were by reading 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.  If we are to worship God acceptably, we must please him in word and deed.  Is your form of worship enabling you to do that? -Matthew  15:8; 23:1-3.  

Our dealings with other people should also reflect God's standards. Jesus Christ encouraged us to treat others as we would  like to have them treat us, for this is part of true worship.  (Matthew 7:12) "what he  also said about displaying brotherly love:  "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves."  (John 13:35)  Jesus' disciples must love one another and do what is good toward  fellow worshipers and others. -Galatians 6:10. 

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 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 to me? And if I am a grand master where is the fear of me?"  They were offending God by offering blind, lame, and sick animals in sacrifice, and 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,m 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: CHAPTER SIX:WHY DO WE GROW OLD AND DIE? 

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life