"IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME." Outward show and appearance are deceptive. Hypocrites appeared religiously devout. They passed among men for very "holy" characters. Their devotions were formal. There was no life in their service. They were without sincerity, fervency, or pure desire. They were satisfied with form but without power. They had a name that lived but were dead. This is the case with too many today. They pass for saints but are far from sanctified. They appear to worship but their hearts are far from God. Now the man is as his heart. God looks at the heart. Beloved, is your heart near to God tonight? It is when our desires go after Him, when our love is fixed upon Him, when the soul bows in reverence before Him, when our expectation is from Him, when our lively thoughts are employed for Him, when all our powers are prostrated before Him. God is now looking at your heart. Do you sigh and desire to get near Him? Do you mourn and grieve over your distance from Him? If so, He looks upon you with pity, and accepts your willing mind. They who live close to God here, will live with God forever there.

For Meditation:
Why should my foolish passions rove?
Where can such sweetness be?
Lord, I have tasted in Thy love,
Lord, I have found in Thee!