Thoughts for another day

June 5, 2013.

Today's verse: Hosea 6:6. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

A man once desired to please God so he could get from Him what he needed.  In his view the way to please God was to chant many prayers and offer diverse sacrifices.  So, he chanted various prayers and offered sacrifices, as many as he could afford.  He did this incessantly, but even after a long time didn’t receive what he wanted; and he was very sad.  Then one day with tears in his eyes, he prayed and told God about his misery and pain and how God never looked at them; why, Lord why?  He asked the Lord. 

The Lord in His mercy spoke to Him saying, ‘My son, let me ask you some questions and you’ll have an answer for all you ask:

·      You spent much money on lambs for sacrifice, but did you notice the beggar opposite your house; that he is suffering and miserable and hungry?  What did you do for him?

·      In muttering gibberish that you never really understood, did you really think you prayed, and your heart was never really in it, how then can it be called prayer but a deluge of meaningless words?

·      How much time do you really spend with Me normally; and even the little time you spend today, is because you’ve fallen on hard times.

The man was ashamed at what God told him and he promised he would mend his ways. 

My friend what ailed the man in his relationship with God, ails most of us for we consider not what God wants but what we in our foolishness have decided He wants.  Look at our Word above and you have what God wants:  mercy toward our fellow human beings and knowledge of Him who is our Father.  And this dovetails beautifully in the Lord’s diktat – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your strength and all your mind and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.   That is enough and if we do that, it won’t be long before the Lord, shows forth His mighty hand in our favor, giving us whatever we want and have asked for in faith.