1 Samuel 15: 22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
There are times that we come before God with many sacrifices. We may not necessarily offer bulls and ram to God in our time and age, because we have a perfect and final sacrifice through the work of Jesus on the cross. However, we may sacrifice our time for God. For instance, we could give up our sleeping time to attend an early morning service, or an all night service. Other times, we may sacrifice our money, though some even do so unwillingly. We give God our money through monetary offerings and tithing, sometimes even by giving to the poor, for he who gives to the poor lends to God.
We may find ourselves offering sacrifices to God each and everyday - going to one meeting or the other , for example attending choir rehearsals. As much as all these are important, God has no need of them when we refuse to sit at His feet for Him to rub off Himself on us, and relate to us personally, instructing us directly. God wants a soul that will relate to Him personally, walk with Him daily, listen to His voice and walk in His ways. God wants a heart that resounds His very heart beat - a heart in search of lost souls, and a heart that resembles Jesus.
Luke 10 : 38 -42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
In the above scripture, Martha was busy , she was making sacrifices for Jesus. She wanted the needed to be done for Jesus. Martha in her quest to get things done, neglected spending personal and quality time with Jesus, to receive from Him and to be instructed personally by Him. How many times do we drift off into Martha's shoes? Working for a master we do not report to. Many of us claim to be working for God, however neglect His instruction and company policy. In this regard, we neglect His voice and words, and live earthly minded.
Only one thing is needed! Let this word from Jesus resound in your ears from now on. ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED!
It is to have a personal relationship with Jesus, to feed at His feet, and receive instruction from Him. It is to obey His Words and run with His instructions. All other things are secondary. They are sacrifices, but God reminds us in Isaiah 1 :11 - “The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?” says the LORD. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
And in Isaiah 1 : 19 -20 , we are told, If you are willing and obedient,you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Let this minister to you!
WHAT IS NEXT?
