THE ONLY WAY TO IMPRESS GOD

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6: 6

The nation of Israel had fled from the one true God and had gone to worship others. This involved keeping many rituals. To make a powerful contrast between the expectations of the false gods and the God they had forsaken, Hosea reminds them that Yahweh doesn’t want a form of religion. He wants a heart that is bent toward Him.

Today, God’s priorities are the same. No ritual will ever impress Him if there is a lack of mercy for those in need. No eloquent prayer nor an impressive monetary gift for some building fund will ever move the heart of God if there is no acknowledgement of Him in the gift. My heart is deceitful, beyond what I presently understand about myself. My motives for ministry are mixed. I’m struck with my lack of altruism every time I take the platform. My enjoyment of reaching out to others can easily involve my own fulfillment and a sense of personal power as much as it can be motivated by wanting to extend the hand of God to those who need Him.

So, I am on a journey to explore my brokenness. I’m committed to put my thoughts under scrutiny. This saves me from merely offering sacrifices and burnt offerings without asking for the heart of Jesus to be born in me. I don’t believe Jesus ever enjoyed notoriety for the purpose of feeding His need for significance. He never became self- impressed by His ability to heal diseases. He never enjoyed the company of the

masses because He needed attention. He was purely motivated to bring people to His Father, whether bringing them involved personal comfort or distress.

Am I like Jesus? A little. But mostly, I cry out that I am conflicted. I need God’s mercy and I can count on it, each time He chooses to use me.

God, today my prayer is this ~ make me more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.