As is so often the case, we think we know better than God how things should be done. And we think that anything we offer him ought to be acceptable. In this way, we repeat the problems of Genesis 3 and 4.
Only God has the right to determine how he shall be approached, how he shall be worshipped. He has told us in his word what he accepts with pleasure and what is abominable to him. If we truly desire to serve and please him we should harken to his word and obey it.
Prayer is frequently neglected today. The emphasis placed upon prayer by the Confession in this chapter should cause us to reconsider the matter and repent where we've been lax or negligent. But neither should we ignore all the other elements of proper worship.
The Confession's plain speech regarding the Sabbath almost sounds like a foreign language in our ears. A return to Sabbath-keeping would revolutionize the American evangelical church. Without true revival, alas, I do not see such a radical reordering of our priorities in the offing. Here is where we must call each other to constant reformation.
Tomorrow: Introduction to religious oaths.
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