"NO, MINE!"

My kids were fighting in the van the other day. I guess that's what kids do. At least all the kids I've ever known, including me.

After scolding them for fighting my little Jacie says"I love you, dad."
It was sweet, but it would have been much sweeter had it not been tainted by her screaming "NO, MINE!" just a few seconds earlier.

It got me thinking. That is the starting place of all worship... how we treat each other.

Jesus said and I paraphrase " Don't come tell God how great He is and how much you love Him when you've been quarreling with others. Knock it off. Show some grace, then come worship."

See, here's my definition of worship; I want what God wants. (I want what I want is idolatry.)

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He gave the first; Love God and the second He put on the same level of importance; Love others;

God is very interested in how I treat and speak to and of others. He places HUGE value on it.

In fact, I can't think of anything He's more interested in.

This means everyone around me. No exceptions.

So here it is in the simplest terms;

Sweet and bitter water cannot flow out of the same spring.
Worship and rancor cannot flow from the same lips.