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His Words
Today I went to continue my reading in 2 Chronicles and came to the passage about Amaziah. It says he did what was right in the sight of the Lord (a very rare thing for the kings in those days) but not with a loyal heart. Wow. His actions were right, but his motivation wasn’t. Um, can you say that’s me. Then God brought to my mind the statement “God requires sacrifice more than obedience”. It was fairly out of the blue so I wasn't quite sure what it meant. But the pit in my stomach told me it wouldn't be an easy pill to swallow whatever it meant. So I googled that phrase, because as usual I couldn’t remember where to find it. Here’s the things that came up in my search:
The sacrifice of Issac as studied by Tozer. Tozer supposes that Abraham had a problem. Isaac had become the idol of his heart. When the significance of Issac had become so great to him that his very soul was in peril, God set before him the choice. Sacrifice the thing most important to you on earth and make Me your all. At some point God will bring this choice: just one and an alternative. (Genesis 22)
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:4-5).
[“For there is love that is as strong as death. Jealousy demanding as the grave. And many waters cannot quench this love.]
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.” (Matthew 23:23) Hypocrite literally means an actor under an assumed character. This is what I am when I decide that mindless obedience can replace sacrifice. How often have I soothed my conscience by sitting in pews and tithing, but have a heart far from God.
[Come be the fire inside of me. Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me
Until You and I are one]
“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” Samuel to King Saul, after Saul’s unlawful sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:29)
“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6) We can invite our friends to church, but that does not relieve us of our duty to love them and allow them to see Christ in us everyday. We can go to church but that doesn’t mean we can ignore the Kingdom of God in the city in which we live.
“For you do not desire sacrifie, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit, a broken and contrite heart – these O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17) Our problem can only be remedied by a willingness to obey the commands of the Lord with all our heart.
[I'll set You as a seal upon my heart
As a seal upon my arm]
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