THE EFFORT OF WORSHIP
Today's reading: 1 Kings 10-13

"So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt! He placed these calf idols at the southern and northern ends of Israel--in Bethel and in Dan. This became a great sin..." 1 Kings 12:28-30 NLT

Worship should require some effort.

To make sure your heart and mind are in the right frame, requires effort.

To make sure your offenses and those you have offended are taken care of, requires effort.

To pick up your sorry self and set if aside for Him to be the main focus, requires effort.

To have studied the Word in such a way that you know if what's being said from the pulpit is according to God, requires effort.

To leave behind anything, or thoughts of anyone, that might distract you from worshiping God, requires effort.

To align your eyes on Him instead of the circumstances, requires effort.

To take your eyes off the people leading worship, requires effort.

To become a part of worship not just a spectator, requires effort.

Beware of those making worship easy for you. Real worship requires sacrifice. Real worship requires intent. Real worship requires attention to details. Real worship requires effort.