It's interesting to me when I see how some of us work so hard at trying to serve our churches in so many ways, and still retain a bitter attitude, or a closed heart. We even strive to serve God in various ways, hoping that our service to Him will somehow cause Him to overlook our other worldly or sinful activities. Scripture teaches us that no amount of activity for God will ever take the place of a heart that is right with Him.
"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
Throughout the ages, God's people have been deceived into thinking that they could please Him through their service and their offerings, regardless of their heart condition. Some examples from Scripture would be when King Saul offered generous sacrifices, hoping God would overlook his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Maybe David assumed that after all he had done on God's behalf, God would overlook his sin (2 Samuel 12:7-15). A good one in the New Testament is when Ananias and Sapphira thought that their generous gift to the church would compensate for their deceit (Acts 5:1-11).
The truth is that we are all susceptible to the same misunderstanding as all of these people were. We can be deceived into assuming that God is more interested in our activity for Him than He is in the conditions of our heart. Paul wrote that even if he had faith to move mountains, gave all he had to feed the poor, and offered his body to burned for the sake of God, if his heart was not right with God, it would all be for nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). God has constantly made it clear that He will no be pacified by even the most generous offerings and zealous service if our hearts are not right with Him. (Micah 6:6-8). So, what's the point? No matter how much we do in God's service, regardless of how active we are in our church, no matter how good our reputation is in the Christian community, He will not overlook a sinful heart. That would be like bribing the police man out of a ticket or buying our way into heaven.
God's desire is that we devote ourselves to knowing Him and loving Him with all of our hearts. Three words come to mind----Confession, Repentance, Surrender! Knowing God, Loving God, and serving God starts with all three and continues with all three. Have you started today?
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
Throughout the ages, God's people have been deceived into thinking that they could please Him through their service and their offerings, regardless of their heart condition. Some examples from Scripture would be when King Saul offered generous sacrifices, hoping God would overlook his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Maybe David assumed that after all he had done on God's behalf, God would overlook his sin (2 Samuel 12:7-15). A good one in the New Testament is when Ananias and Sapphira thought that their generous gift to the church would compensate for their deceit (Acts 5:1-11).
The truth is that we are all susceptible to the same misunderstanding as all of these people were. We can be deceived into assuming that God is more interested in our activity for Him than He is in the conditions of our heart. Paul wrote that even if he had faith to move mountains, gave all he had to feed the poor, and offered his body to burned for the sake of God, if his heart was not right with God, it would all be for nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). God has constantly made it clear that He will no be pacified by even the most generous offerings and zealous service if our hearts are not right with Him. (Micah 6:6-8). So, what's the point? No matter how much we do in God's service, regardless of how active we are in our church, no matter how good our reputation is in the Christian community, He will not overlook a sinful heart. That would be like bribing the police man out of a ticket or buying our way into heaven.
God's desire is that we devote ourselves to knowing Him and loving Him with all of our hearts. Three words come to mind----Confession, Repentance, Surrender! Knowing God, Loving God, and serving God starts with all three and continues with all three. Have you started today?
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
Very well said Harold, We all need to focus our heart and sole's towards God first and then do service in the world because of our love and devotion of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Matt, I appreciate the encouragement, and, yes, we all need to focus on God first and then our service.
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