Today’s Reading: Proverbs 21
The way you behave in
your dealings with others means far more to God than your religious
performance. It seems that there is no shortage of people who are ready to do
their religious duty on Sundays, but show no signs of a godly life the rest of
the week. They meticulously make the “sacrifices” of attending church services,
paying their tithes, saying their prayers, following their liturgy, singing
their songs, and performing their rituals – but there is no attempt to live a
righteous life before God. They just don’t get that God is more interested in their seeking to be righteous, just, and
merciful than He is in them coming and offering such “sacrifices” to Him.
David the Psalmist
recognized this truth in Psalm 51 – “You do not desire a sacrifice, or I
would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is
a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” God
is far more interested in matters of the heart than He is in our religious
ceremony. Having this type of broken spirit and repentant heart will result in
living the type of life that God finds acceptable and pleasing – a life of
faith, mercy, kindness, justice, and righteousness.
Yahweh was very blunt
about this truth with the prophet Isaiah when He questioned him about religious
duty:
“’What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?’ says the Lord.
‘I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all
your ceremony?
Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts
me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days
for fasting—they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.’” (Isaiah 1:11-13)
The reality is that
if our heart isn’t in it, God isn’t interested in our religion. He is seeking
those with a humble and contrite heart who recognize their need for His grace
and forgiveness and commit themselves to living righteously, justly, and mercifully
through the power of His indwelling Spirit. The way you behave in your dealings
with others means far more to God than your religious performance.
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