So I was reading in the book of Amos recently and I came across a passage that literally blew my mind.  Check this out.  This is Amos chapter 5 vs 21-24…

“I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.  Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.  I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.  But let justice  roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

This terminology sounds so interesting to me.  “I reject your festivals.”  To me it sounds like… I reject your Easter Service, I reject your Christmas Eve service.   “I reject your solemn assemblies”  Sounds to me like I reject your worship services.  I’m not going to listen to your Choirs, and Cantata’s and special music.  I reject your Vesper services.  I reject your prayer meetings.  I won’t even listen to the sound of your musicians.  That’s my translation.  Isn’t that crazy?  It blows my mind. 

It appears to me that all of those formula’s we have created for worship, and public services are maybe not what God is looking for. 

“But let justice  roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Hmm…  It seems to me that God is more concerned with justice and righteousness than how flowery our prayers can be.  Or how professional our music is when it comes time for “worship”.  I think that an act of worship is to lead a life that is striving for righteousness and justice. 

Side note, I also believe that when all of those public and private services are done by a person who has justice and righteousness in their heart and mind that it is absolutely God honoring.  I absolutely believe that God listens and hears the cries and the prayers, and the songs of His people WHEN they are in a right relationship with Him. 

Just some thoughts… We need to make sure that before we go and polish our worship services that we go and polish our lives.