"How can I stand up before God and show proper respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload of offerings topped off with yearling calves? Would God be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin? (Micah 6:6-7, The Message).
The prophet Micah wondered what would be the most appropriate way to "show proper respect to the high God". He considered a number of options - "an armload of offerings", several "yearling calves", "thousands of of rams", or "buckets and barrels of olive oil". Then he considered something more extreme - a sacrifice of his firstborn child. But Micah soon discovered, just like the Psalmist, that the primary requirement of God is not sacrifice or burnt offering (Psalms 40:6).
Like Micah, many devoted God-worshippers have all through the ages wondered what impresses God. Whether it is in showing respect for His almightiness and unquestionable sovereignty, or conveying our deepest appreciation for His goodness and mercies to us, or showing remorse for our offenses, it is important to know what exactly God requires of us so that we won't worship in vain. Jesus once labelled the Pharisees vain worshippers because they formulated man-made worship patterns and required God to flow with it (Matthew 15:7-9). God does not want you to be a vain worshipper.
To show us His ways and what is required of us, God engages His people in Psalms 50. Hear Him:
"I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High" (Psalms 50:9-14)
The summary of the above is gratitude and obedience. And so God concludes, "Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me. To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver” (Psalms 50:23, Easy English Version). That is greater than all the offerings you could give to God.
Micah also eventually came to the same conclusion: "God has told us what is good. This is what the Lord wants from us: 'You must be fair to other people', God says. 'You must want to be kind. And you must be careful to do what I show you' (Micah 6:8, Easy English Version). Obedience to God’s commands, coupled with a thankful heart is worth more than all the offerings and sacrifices we could ever bring to God.
Note that God is not disinterested in our offerings perse. Indeed, He commands us not to appear before Him empty-handed (Exodus 34:20), and we are to cheerfully give quality, bountiful offerings to Him at all times (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). But of what use is an offering from an ungrateful and rebellious fellow? That is why God says offerings and sacrifices are not His primary requirements from us. Our very selves, our hearts in joyful, grateful subjection to the Lord is our greatest offering (Romans 12:1).
I know that some churches and nations have thanksgiving day, maybe once a year. But what about the rest of the year? Since we receive His blessings and mercies all year round, aren't we supposed to be thankful at all times? Indeed, the Bible says we should give "thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). And then, whereas we may have 'thanksgiving day', do we have 'obedience day'? You know that would be preposterous to have a day of obedience to the Lord and live the rest of the year in disobedience.
The import of this message is that gratitude and obedience must be a permanent way of life for the man or woman who wants to please God. May the grace to continually flow in gratitude and obedience come into our lives and never depart from us for ever and ever.
No comments:
Post a Comment