Purity of Intention

Since the essence of worship is the disposition of the heart, the intention we bring to an act of worship determines its value. Even when the outward form of an act expresses faith and obedience, a person’s inner intentions become manifest in the end. Progress on the path to God requires purity of heart and sincerity of mind.

Intention begins our life in the world.

When the Israelites approached the Temple and sung the psalm, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” they were declaring that in their daily lives they had been obedient to God’s commandments to live ethically and justly. From that pure starting-point, we can cultivate a mind conducive to worship by placing our practical concerns in second place to the affairs of Heaven. As we glorify God in our minds and dedicate our bodies to His service, our sincere intention opens the door to an authentic relationship.

For the antithesis of sincerity, see Chapter 15: Hypocrisy. For more on the role of sincerity in everyday life, see Chapter 12: Sincerity and Authenticity.