from Gary Hamrick
... Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Chapel
for Thu 08/13/2026

... When you draw near to God, remember who is speaking and come ready not merely to hear His Word, but to obey it.

Ecclesiastes 5:1 NIV (devotion translation)

This passage reminds us that worship begins with a proper understanding of who God is and how we approach Him.

Solomon calls us to “guard” our steps when we draw near to God. This is more than a warning about outward behavior. It is an invitation to examine the heart. God is holy, sovereign, and worthy of reverence, and worship should reflect the greatness of the One we worship.

We can easily become casual about spiritual things. We may gather with other believers, sing familiar songs, hear Scripture taught, and participate in the routines of church without considering the condition of our hearts. But biblical worship is more than attendance or singing. It is a life that recognizes God’s supreme worth and responds with reverence, obedience, and devotion.

Solomon specifically tells us to draw near to listen. In Scripture, listening to God involves more than hearing words. It means receiving His Word with a willingness to obey. James expresses the same truth when he warns believers not merely to hear the Word but to do what it says. True worship listens humbly because God is the authority and we are His servants.

This also means our worship cannot be separated from the way we live throughout the week. The God we honor when believers gather is the same Lord we are called to obey in our homes, relationships, work, and private decisions. Christ did not redeem us merely to produce outward religious activity. By His grace, He has called us to belong to Him and to offer our lives in faithful obedience.

When you draw near to God, remember who is speaking and come ready not merely to hear His Word, but to obey it.

Lord, give me a reverent heart that listens carefully to Your Word and responds in obedience. Help me worship You sincerely with both my words and my life, through the grace of Christ. Amen.

• Ecclesiastes 5:2-7 ↗ - Solomon expands on approaching God with reverence, humility, and careful words.
• 1 Samuel 15:22 ↗ - God desires obedience rather than religious activity without a surrendered heart.
• James 1:22-25 ↗ - Hearing God’s Word must be followed by putting it into practice.
• Psalms 95:6-7 ↗ - True worship begins with bowing before our Creator and listening to His voice.
• Romans 12:1 ↗ - True worship is expressed by offering our entire lives to God.
• Hebrews 12:28-29 ↗ - Believers should worship God with reverence and godly fear because He is holy.