"... 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams'" (1 Sam. 15:22, NIV).
"For I desire steadfast love [or mercy] and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6, ESV).
God isn't interested in what we give up for Him (like giving up something for Lent), but that we dedicate our lives to Him in full surrender to His will. It's not what you give up but that you give up yourself. Living the Christian life costs something in the long term, but not living it costs more! To obey is better than sacrifice (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22)! He desires mercy and not sacrifice (cf. Hos. 6:6; Matt. 9:13)! When we bring our offerings to God, and our whole life is to be an offering, we are doing that which costs us something--the ownership of our lives. The kinds of sacrifices that please God are the sacrifice of praise (cf. Heb. 13:15), the sacrifice of righteousness (Psa. 4:5) and the sacrifice of thanksgiving (cf. Psa. 107:22, 116:17)! "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" (Prov. 21:3, NIV). The sacrifice that pleases God is a broken spirit and contrite heart (cf. Psa. 51:17).
If we are just going through the motions of sacrifice and it becomes a matter of routine, duty, or habit, we've lost it. Some people just memorize the Dance of the Pious and put on a show for God as they nod to God to fulfill their guilty conscience. We can never know the joy of worship when we are not free in the Spirit of all guilt and sin. We worship with our lives, not just in church! We don't go to church to just to sing a worship song because the full service is worship to Him. Sometimes it seems we don't get much out of the worship but this ought not to be so. If we don't get anything out of worship we did it for the wrong reason and may be in a worship rut. Worship is God-centered and we must learn to focus on Christ and get our eyes off ourselves. We lose ourselves in worship and enjoy doing it and by not letting it become perfunctory. When all's right with God our worship will show it and we get recharged as a by-product! We empty ourselves to get filled! The way to entree into God's presence, actually being ushered into the throne room, is by offering thanksgiving and praising Him. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise...," (Psalm 100:4, NIV).
"For I desire steadfast love [or mercy] and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6, ESV).
God isn't interested in what we give up for Him (like giving up something for Lent), but that we dedicate our lives to Him in full surrender to His will. It's not what you give up but that you give up yourself. Living the Christian life costs something in the long term, but not living it costs more! To obey is better than sacrifice (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22)! He desires mercy and not sacrifice (cf. Hos. 6:6; Matt. 9:13)! When we bring our offerings to God, and our whole life is to be an offering, we are doing that which costs us something--the ownership of our lives. The kinds of sacrifices that please God are the sacrifice of praise (cf. Heb. 13:15), the sacrifice of righteousness (Psa. 4:5) and the sacrifice of thanksgiving (cf. Psa. 107:22, 116:17)! "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" (Prov. 21:3, NIV). The sacrifice that pleases God is a broken spirit and contrite heart (cf. Psa. 51:17).
If we are just going through the motions of sacrifice and it becomes a matter of routine, duty, or habit, we've lost it. Some people just memorize the Dance of the Pious and put on a show for God as they nod to God to fulfill their guilty conscience. We can never know the joy of worship when we are not free in the Spirit of all guilt and sin. We worship with our lives, not just in church! We don't go to church to just to sing a worship song because the full service is worship to Him. Sometimes it seems we don't get much out of the worship but this ought not to be so. If we don't get anything out of worship we did it for the wrong reason and may be in a worship rut. Worship is God-centered and we must learn to focus on Christ and get our eyes off ourselves. We lose ourselves in worship and enjoy doing it and by not letting it become perfunctory. When all's right with God our worship will show it and we get recharged as a by-product! We empty ourselves to get filled! The way to entree into God's presence, actually being ushered into the throne room, is by offering thanksgiving and praising Him. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise...," (Psalm 100:4, NIV).
Sacrifice entails that it costs us something, as David said he would not "offer to God that which cost [him] nothing." Our salvation costs Christ His blook, subordination, and life but is freely offered to us when we trust Him as Savior and submit to Him as Lord. It's free, but it costs everything we've got! True holiness consists in doing the will of God with a smile according to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Christians are to be hedonists in the sense of finding their joy in the Lord! (Nehemiah 8:10, NIV) says "... [F]or the joy of the LORD is your strength...." What is the chief end of man? "We ought to rejoice in the Lord always and glorify God by enjoying Him forever" (paraphrase from The Westminster Shorter Catechism). God is most pleased and glorified with us when we enjoy Him and take pleasure in Him: take delight in the Lord and He will give you the delights of your heart (cf. Psa. 37:4).
Our lives are to "offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice ... this is [our] true and proper worship" (cf. Rom. 12:1) and that means salvation isn't by martyrdom or asceticism (i.e., the more we suffer, the holier we are!) but we must desire to live out our faith! And we must offer ourselves to God's altar daily and renew our commitment regularly-it's not just a one-time event or decision! We are to be so filled with the Spirit (cf. Eph. 5:18) that we overflow to be a blessing to others as a conduit as our cup overflows (cf. Psa. 23:5; Zech. 8:13). Christians have the beatific vision as an eternal hope and will enter into the "joy of the Lord" in glory as a reward. Soli Deo Gloria!
Our lives are to "offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice ... this is [our] true and proper worship" (cf. Rom. 12:1) and that means salvation isn't by martyrdom or asceticism (i.e., the more we suffer, the holier we are!) but we must desire to live out our faith! And we must offer ourselves to God's altar daily and renew our commitment regularly-it's not just a one-time event or decision! We are to be so filled with the Spirit (cf. Eph. 5:18) that we overflow to be a blessing to others as a conduit as our cup overflows (cf. Psa. 23:5; Zech. 8:13). Christians have the beatific vision as an eternal hope and will enter into the "joy of the Lord" in glory as a reward. Soli Deo Gloria!
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