I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. (Jeremiah 7:22b-23)
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (1 Sam. 15:22)
Thoughts: The way to be blessed by God is to listen to Him, to obey Him, to heed Him. We listen through the gift of His Word Worship or going to church alone does not please Him.. Some ask why the church in the West is shrinking while the church in other places (like Africa and South America) is exploding. The difference is twofold- faith in God and obedience to what the Lord has said. Too many in the West lack faith or trust in God or faith and trust in His Word. To think (as some have said) that the church is not growing because it is not more worldly or culturally relevant is deceptive. It is a bit like King Ahaz thinking that he needed to bring the gods of Assyria into Jerusalem's Temple because they were stronger and more popular (2 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 28). God promises blessing when we obey and exile, decay, and irrelevance when we disobey. The Church in the West, especially the mainline Protestant church, has chosen relevance and conformity to the world over obedience to God's Word. So the Sabbath has disappeared. So adultery, fornication, and immorality of all kinds is becoming commonplace and we have lost a sense of shame. To please God, we should seek Him, and to seek to do His will. Worship of God without obedience is shallow and empty. How can we praise God or say we love God without listening to Him? But if we listen to Him, we shall bear fruit (John 15:5-7) and be blessed by the Great Blesser of all.
Prayer:
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