Scripture: For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6
Observation: Jesus quotes the first half of this passage to the Pharisees, telling them to research what it means. Even out of context, it seems obvious. The Lord was never about desiring legalistic compliance with rituals and procedures, but about relationship and communion through time, attention, and interaction. God wished, for example, that people would demonstrate love and compassion, and therefore engage with the Lord with joy rather than with a simple process of killing an animal and moving on. God wanted the Israelites to simply declare him as the Lord of all the earth, instead of performing the ritual of the morning offering and moving along in their lives as if that was just something they had to do, like brushing their teeth.
Application: I must be careful not to allow anything concerning the Lord to just become a ritual. Not ... going to church on Sundays, or saying prayers before meals. I need to pay special attention to God, not because he asks it, but because he is the Lord and is due my attention and my intentionality.
The Lord desires my love for others, not the money I simply hand over to pay for the church to help others. He wishes I would declare him Lord and God, not to mindlessly sing songs I have memorized.
This concept - one sentence in a book of a 'minor prophet' - was so central to God's heart that Jesus quoted it in one of his most direct statements to the Pharisees. Then I should use its lesson to guard my ways and ensure I am not like them.
Prayer: Lord, you are central to my life, though there are times I may not behave or think that way. May I keep you central in all things, and sincerely acknowledge and worship you in my daily walk. I desire to be mindful, intentional, and missional. Amen.
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