Hosea 6:6 (NKJV) 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
One of the most important things we can learn as believers is to understand what God truly desires from us.
Many people go to great lengths to try to please God. But they get caught up in repetitive things; traditions, habits, routines, rituals, etc.
And many times, we view the things we do as a great sacrifice to God.
But our habits and routines don’t please God. In fact, they do quite the opposite.
What pleases God is our sincere, heartfelt love for and dedication to Him. This leads to us obeying Him, not out of blind tradition, but out of a sincerity of heart that goes way beyond a ritualistic or habit-driven action ever could.
In the verse above, it’s important to note that the word, mercy, is better translated as faithfulness or loyalty.
So, let us not be rote, habitual or mechanical in our walk with God.
Instead, let’s be sincere, faithful and loyal, that we may hear His voice readily and not quick to shut Him out because what we see or hear doesn’t match our routines.
Remember what the prophet, Samuel, said to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22; to obey is better than sacrifice.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
