Yesterday we had a Bible study with the group of ladies here on campus. During our Bible study the Lord dropped a thought into my spirit that went along with what we were reading and what I’d been studying on my own time. Today, as I studied this, I wanted to share this challenging word with you all. You’ll need your Bible, notebook, and some time for this one!
Read:
Isaiah 1
Hosea
Psalm 33
In your notebook, write out what words come to mind when you think of “love”? What words come to mind when you think of God’s love? Some words we came up with yesterday were trust, safe, joyful, excited, seen, heard, cared for, honored, peace, known/fully known, understood, protected, honest (fully honest about who we are), accepted and forgiven. When we think of these words about love, this is the way God loves us, how He shows His love for us, and how we can show our love for Him.
In Isaiah 1 we see the Lord speak through the prophet Isaiah and call out the sin of the people of Judah. Over and over in the Old Testament we see the people of Israel and the people of Judah going to and from the Lord, with one king who knows God, they come back to Him, with another king who rebels, the people rebel. What sticks out for me the most is Isaiah 1:11, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”
That really made me think. In your notebook, write out some of your “sacrifices” or maybe even what’s on your “to-do” list. Is it time, talents, treasures, etc.? Pray before writing these out and let the Lord lead you. Now, what is the purpose of all of these sacrifices? In Isaiah 1:13 the Lord says, “Bring no more futile sacrifices…” which also means, “worthless” sacrifices. What we have written down, has the Lord actually asked us to do these things or to continue to do these things or have we taken them on, or continued them, because of “appearance” or because we don’t want to say no, or because we feel obligated, etc, etc.?
Hosea 6:6 tells us, “For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” God is telling us that He wants a relationship with us, time with us, more than He wants us to be running around “busy” with little purpose.
So, what is the purpose of our sacrifice (Isaiah 1:11)? Are they futile or worthless (Isaiah 1:13)? Do we remember in our day-to-day life that God desires mercy and not sacrifice, that He wants us to know Him and build a relationship with Him more than He wants us to just be “busy”?
The thought that the Lord gave me yesterday as we talked about different words that describe love was that these words describe God’s love for us, then the way we should love people, and also the way we should respond and love God. However, when we begin to take these attributes of love and apply them or give them to the world or to our flesh (for example: relationships that aren’t right, time or sacrificing things the Lord didn’t ask us to do, putting our trust in someone or something other than the Lord (Psalm33:17)) that is when we begin to “become like a harlot” (Isaiah 1:21) or prostitute ourselves and our relationship with the Lord. Reading through Hosea we see the Lord’s love and kindness towards us even if we “become like a harlot”, He is still here, waiting.
In Isaiah 1:16-20 we see the strategy of coming back to Him. Also, read through the New Testament and see the sacrifice Jesus made so that we could come close to the Lord.
I want to challenge you today to think, really think, about the things you are doing and how you spend your time. Are you “busy” because the Lord actually asked you to do certain things, or are you “busy” because you’ve taken on more than He asked? He won’t ask you to do so many things that it affects or hurts your time and relationship with Him. This will look different for everyone, not everyone is called to do the same thing.
I challenge you to write out what you’re thinking or feeling. What is the Lord speaking to your heart? Do you need to have some tough conversations with Him and let go of some things? Do you need to say “yes” to some things that you’ve been avoiding? I don’t know your situation, but I know that God knows better than we do. Get alone with Him, seek Him, let Him challenge, change, and humble your heart.