The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 6:6,
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
The Lord tells Israel he wants their hearts. It is not their compliance to religious requirements the Lord is after here. It was the Lord himself that instituted sacrifice and burnt offerings in the tabernacle worship of the Israelites given through Moses. However, in the exercise of these things, somehow, Israel's acknowledgement of God was lost in them. God wants their hearts, he wants to be acknowledged by his people!
Sometimes I wonder what the view looks like from God's perspective as he looks upon us. We are told he is near, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." Philippians 4:4-5. Yet, often it seems, God is viewed as distant. At times the choices many make betray a lack of acknowledgement of God's existence, let alone any proximity to him whatsoever. I don't have to look beyond myself to find a lack of the acknowledgement of God from time to time! Far be it from me to look down my nose at the Israelites!
When we fail to acknowledge the presence of God it is no wonder we stray. God looks about himself and watches as folks scurry about their business, living their lives absent the presence of mind that God exists and that he is near. We all know how we would feel as a parent, as a spouse, as a friend, as a sibling if those we love and care about failed to acknowledge our very presence! In God's tremendous love for us, demonstrated in his sending of the Son of his love to die a miserable death for us, I have to wonder how it impacts his heart when we fail to acknowledge him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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