Imagine, for a moment, that this coming Sunday morning we would hear this message from the pulpit:
O congregation, understand this:
The Lord hates your worship services; he cannot stand it when you gather together at 9:30 and 18:00 every Sunday again;
Even though you come with huge sums of money for the collection bag, it will make no difference;
Away with the noise of your songs of worship; he has had enough of listening to your singing;
I know this shocks you, but what does your God really want? That your lives are permeated with genuine godliness!
It is very possible for us to fool/delude ourselves into thinking and assuming that God is happy with our religious activities (e.g., personal devotions, going faithfully to church every Sunday, etc.), while in fact he is not happy with them at all!
Scripture makes something very clear: our God loves our religious activity—but not if it is not part and parcel of a life of practical godliness.
21 “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.