WHAT GOD DESIRES!

People are by nature very religious. They think that by doing things for God they will obtain favor with Him. The Old Testament required many different sacrifices of those under the Mosaic Covenant. The aroma of those sacrifices often permeated the air surrounding the altar. Barring blatant hypocrisy, surely the participants must have walked away feeling good about what they had done, just as people today feel good about doing things for others. Not that it’s wrong to do good for others in the name of Jesus, the Bible is clear that the Christian life is a life of sacrificial service. But all that we do follows salvation, it doesn’t merit it. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). What we must always remember as believers is that even when our intentions are correct and we are busy doing things for others, we can still miss the most important matter of all. God desires us to know Him and have an intimate relationship with Him above all else. A husband can do many good things for his wife, but if he never spends time with her enjoying her presence and getting to know her, that hardly counts for much. Duty is not the same as devotion. The prophet Hosea told the people of Israel, “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). What can we learn from the prophets word? Genuine heartfelt, non-discriminatory mercy toward others in need is greater than sacrifice, and knowing God is better than burnt offerings. Both sacrifices and burnt offerings constitute things we offer up to God, which can include our regular giving. The word “better” draws the comparison. Something is better than our offerings. That something is mercy and the knowledge of God. Why is that so? It is because mercy and compassion stem from a heart connected closely in touch with the heart of God. When we really “know God”, we think and act in accordance with His character. To put it simply, we do what Jesus would do! To do what Jesus would do makes us his disciples in a very real way. We follow Him and show others the love of Jesus.

Take time out of your busy life daily to make it a priority to draw near to God in His Word and in prayer.  These are the means of obtaining the knowledge of God. It’s personal, not just intellectual or theological. The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus day had their heads filled with theology, but their hearts were far from God. Don’t be another religious man or woman showcasing your religion on Sunday.  Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:1). Go forth and show the world what this really looks like!

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom