One of the most serious and damning statements in the entire bible is the one that Jesus makes to the Jews who are accusing the disciples of overlooking Jewish customs and rules. It appears that the disciples did not wash their hands to eat and the Jews used this to accuse them of being unrighteous (Even though it was not a requirement of the Old Testament law to do so). Jesus, in his infinite wisdom, turned the Pharisees attention to the fact that they so easily ignore the law of God for their own traditions which end up in harsh treatment of others. They were more concerned for their traditions and rules than they were for living for God. Jesus says to them, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"
The Pharisees were not worshippers of God, they were protectors of their own glory. What came out of their mouths about righteousness was not the same as what was in their heart about loving God. Their worship was in vain. Their worship was nothing.
This is a huge warning for us. We can so easily come to church on a Sunday and speak and act as if our whole lives revolve around the glory of God when they don’t. It’s possible for us to teach a Sunday School class with our lips and have our hearts far from God. It’s possible for us to sing the most beautiful harmonies to a hymn and yet have hearts during the week that sing the delights of the idols we worship.
The big point for all of us here is that worship is a matter of the heart. We worship God not through ritual or mere words but through a heart that is intent on his glory and submission to his authority. It is a heart that revels in the forgiveness found in the cross and responds with undying active gratitude. When we worship in all that we say, do and think, we declare with our whole being that God is Lord and has my love and devotion in every avenue of my life.
If we are to be a church of worshippers, we need to be a people intent on our gatherings being a reflection of what is already happening in our hearts. We meet on Sunday because on Monday to Saturday God is adored and praised. And when we open our mouths to sing together on a Sunday morning, it is the culmination of week of adoration. It is the reflection of our hearts for God.