Preparing Our Hearts for Worship
There are times when God draws us back—toward remembrance, renewal, and recommitment. Genesis 35 describes one such moment when Jacob returns to Bethel, the site of his initial encounter with the Lord. After years of struggle, failure, and experiencing God’s grace, Jacob is now being called home, both physically and spiritually.
Before worship begins, Jacob recognizes something essential: preparation matters. He instructs his household to remove idols, purify themselves, and change their clothes. These commands remind us that worship begins in the heart long before it reaches the altar.
Genesis 35:2-3
Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. We must get up and go to Bethel.
WE MUST REMOVE OUR IDOLS
Jacob initially instructs his family to remove foreign gods, which are idols accumulated through years of compromise and could obstruct genuine worship. Today, our idols might be less obvious but equally influential—anything competing with God for our trust, love, or identity. What occupies our time, influences our desires, and guides our choices often shows what we truly worship. Similar to Jacob’s household, idols should be discarded rather than just managed. When these idols are set aside, our hearts are liberated to worship God wholeheartedly.
WE MUST PURIFY OUR HEARTS
Removing idols alone is insufficient; hearts require cleansing. Jacob gathers his family for purification, recognizing that idolatry leaves a spiritual mark. The Scripture emphasizes that purity starts with repentance—sincere confession and a return to God. God’s call to purity isn’t about earning His favor but about responding to His grace. He invites us to be renewed so our fellowship with Him can be restored.
WE MUST PUT ON NEW GARMENTS
Finally, Jacob tells them to change their clothes—a clear sign of inner change and respect. For believers today, this signifies a deeper truth. In Christ, we are invited to discard the old self and embrace the new, dressed in His righteousness. Worship naturally arises from living in this new identity, approaching God not in sin's garments, but in Christ's grace.
Jacob’s return to Bethel highlights that worship is sacred and transformative, not casual or careless. Reflecting on Bethel involves more than recalling God's deeds; it calls for a response to His identity. As we get ready to worship, both individually and together, we should honestly examine our hearts. What should be let go? What should be confessed? What must be set aside to walk in newness of life?
True worship flows from prepared hearts. The God who answered Jacob in his distress is the same God who has been faithful to us “everywhere we have gone.” May the Lord lead us back to our Bethel, where idols are surrendered, hearts are cleansed, lives are renewed, and worship is restored.
