Perfectpeace

The Lord asked Israel to listen and obey his commands.

Jeremiah 11:3 (KJV) –
” And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
4: Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God”

This was a covenant between God and Israel.

For Israel to be God’s people, they had to obey the commands He gave them.

But the Israelites did not listen and obey. They went their own ways but kept bringing the sacrifices, willfully ignoring that “obedience is better than sacrifice.”

1 Samuel 15:22: “And Samuel said,
Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

The Israelites might have brought the sacrifice to appease the Lord. So they can say, “We did something for you.”

Clearly, God was not asking for their offerings or sacrifices.

We do the same today. We feel God should be happy about the things we do for Him while we are living as we desire, the way we want.

We count the hours we come to church, how many people we have helped, how long we have prayed, and / or read the Bible.

It very important to

1- listen

2- obey

James describes it in detail, what it means to listen, and Obey.

James 1:23 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25: But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

The Lord Jesus also taught

In Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

To those that do not do the word, He will say

“I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Mathew 7:23

Let us look at an example of sacrifices versus obedience and the importance or necessity of forgiveness before worshiping or offering sucrifice.

Matthew 5:23 says
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

I dare say lots of people disobey this and think God should be happy with

the activities they do “for Him” in church.

But forgiveness comes before prayer, before singing, before preaching….

God clearly says “…obedience is better than sacrifice.”

It is time we listen to what God says and Obey.

God is not after our sacrifice (singing, preaching, helping others….) but our obedience.

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

Shalom.