One of the difficult things that all Christians, especially when worshiping, face is "going through the motions." It is amazing how often you hear that complaint from brethren. What they mean is that they just can't get their hearts into being a Christian. They find no joy in it; in fact, they see it as a drudgery. But what they really want to know is -- how can I get past this and "feel" what I'm doing?

    Try answering that to a brother or sister. It is tough. The difficulty lies in the fact that God is not going to overwhelm them with "feelings" and passion for worship and service. Christians can wait from now until the judgment and it will never swoop down on them from above. That feeling and joy must come from within the soul of God's servants.

    Now this is not to say that nothing comes into the heart from outside. Indeed, something must invade the spirit and fill the vast reservoir of the soul that God designed in his own image. This is the essence of Christianity -- that the word of God must enter man's mind and transform him into the beautiful image of God's Son. But this is where it gets tough.

    The word can only enter the heart that opens up to truth and responds to God's message. It's, as Jesus said, like sowing seed in soil; when the soil is good the seed takes root, grows, and produces fruit. So it is with the gospel. Men must study the word, must receive its truth, and then activate it into growth. The result is that it produces an appreciation for God and Christ, for grace, for love, for forgiveness, and for hope. Out of that the fruit of faith, love, joy, peace are generated -- qualities that excite us about worship, prayer, service, and faithfulness.

    When these things fill our hearts we look forward to the opportunities to worship, to sing praises to God, to pray for our needs, and, upon the first day of the week, to meditate on the death of the One who has brought salvation. It, thus, is no longer a going through the motions of worship; it is heartfelt devotion to right and goodness and steadfastness in the Lord.

    Those who never feel these things simply have an empty heart -- one that has never genuinely received these spiritual qualities. Slothful or dull minds remain at the first principle level, are babes in Christ, and never experience the fulness of growth in the Lord (see Heb. 5:11-14). Because they receive not the word with readiness of mind they never experience the excitement that true worshipers feel. The disciples at Jerusalem felt this because the message of the gospel cut them to the heart and won their allegiance. They thus continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine (see Acts 2:37-42).

    While this explains to those who go through the motions how to receive this experience, it cannot do it for them. Only they themselves can energize their souls by an open, genuine reception of the living and active word of God that can save the soul (see Heb. 4:12; Jas. 1:21).