Psalms 51:16 (KJV)
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:
thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Ah yes, God only sees the heart. Our service to God doesn't matter. Attendence and participation don't matter. God only sees the heart.
Samuel even 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." 1Sam 15:22
Really?
In the first place, the whole point of this Psalm is a humbled and contrite David, fully realising his folly in the incident of Bathsheba, pouring out his heart to God. It simply highlights the fact that, repentance has to come out of godly sorrow (c.f. 2Co 7:10).
Secondly, if we just read all the way to the end, we find in the concluding verse 19
"Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering:
then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar."
As in the case of Samuel rebuking Saul, the problem is not with the sacrifice but with the motivation behind it. The issue is not that sacrifice is not important but that they must come out of a pure heart and in obedience to God's Word.
Yes, God sees the heart and it is precisely so that we need to render our perfect obedience AND offer our sacrifice and service that it may be acceptable to Him. And yes, far be it for us to put the cart before the horse by thinking we can make oursleves right by working on our own terms.
Friday, May 17, 2019
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Convenient Season
Dear brethren,
Today's readings :
1Chronicles 14-15; Acts 24
Acts 24:25
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Again we see how that even the Apostles used "reason". And it is clear from other passages we've come across that it was reasoning out of Scriptures. Everything is clearly laid out for all to see! There's no hiding, no "secret" interpretation privy only to the privilege view. It is God's open invitation to an open book, to all to study, to reason, to scrutinize and above all, with that come to the knowledge of the truth.
Unfortunately, as shown here in Felix, it is often the human prejudice and pride that get's in the way. Notice Felix "trembled". He understood exactly what Paul was saying. He knew exactly what he must do. He just refused to render obedience. The following verse reveal part of it being greed. And then comes the "classic" and perhaps one of the saddest response - "when I have a convenient season".
You and I know very well this is really an excuse to brush off people one has no intention to pay attention to.
Brethren, there is no "convenient season" to obey the gospel, to do God's will! Because NOW is the day of salvation(2Co 6:2). Because for the Christian we are to be ready in season and out of season! (2Ti 4:2)
God help us all to not procrastinate, whether be it to obey the gospel or to do God's work, but to act NOW because who knows if our next convenient moment will even come...
Today's readings :
1Chronicles 14-15; Acts 24
Acts 24:25
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Again we see how that even the Apostles used "reason". And it is clear from other passages we've come across that it was reasoning out of Scriptures. Everything is clearly laid out for all to see! There's no hiding, no "secret" interpretation privy only to the privilege view. It is God's open invitation to an open book, to all to study, to reason, to scrutinize and above all, with that come to the knowledge of the truth.
Unfortunately, as shown here in Felix, it is often the human prejudice and pride that get's in the way. Notice Felix "trembled". He understood exactly what Paul was saying. He knew exactly what he must do. He just refused to render obedience. The following verse reveal part of it being greed. And then comes the "classic" and perhaps one of the saddest response - "when I have a convenient season".
You and I know very well this is really an excuse to brush off people one has no intention to pay attention to.
Brethren, there is no "convenient season" to obey the gospel, to do God's will! Because NOW is the day of salvation(2Co 6:2). Because for the Christian we are to be ready in season and out of season! (2Ti 4:2)
God help us all to not procrastinate, whether be it to obey the gospel or to do God's work, but to act NOW because who knows if our next convenient moment will even come...
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Wisdom from a Town Clerk
Dear brethren,
Today's readings :
1Samuel 28,29; 1Chronicles 9; Acts 19
Acts 19:37 (KJV)
For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
In this rather eventful account, we learn of quite a few important concepts.
Firstly, as mentioned from time to time, our beliefs are often affected by 3 things - pride, prejudice and profit. And it is no doubt profit first that motivated Demetrius to stir up the pride in the followers of Diana. Certainly, we have a multitude of exmaples of profit getting in the way of beliefs, even today.
Secondly, as we read in this particular verse, we see that the apostles and disciples exemplified speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15). They did not preach for "filthy lucre" or "prestige" (c.f. 1Pe 5:2; Phi 1:16) and they went about focusing on the truth rather than putting down others. And this is the pattern that God had shown us. Just simply focus on the Word. There is no need, no cause to thump our chests and hurl insults at the beliefs of others. Doing so will only serve to drive people away and in some cases, bring the hand of the law upon ourselves.
Lastly, it is interesting that a town clerk had the wisdom and level-headedness when he went about resolving the issue. Again, he did not try to take sides but presented facts without any prejudice and intent to stir up further emotions. Even as he appeased the crowd, it was not with vain effusive words but with facts that struck a chord with the people (v.35, 36). And that is how we should resolve conflict. Focus on the matter and hand and layout the facts. As far as possible, get emotions out of the way.
And again, similar to the second point, this is the same attitude that we should adopt when we are sharing the gospel.
Brethren, we need to remind ourselves that ultimately we are ALL human, ALL of whom God desires to be saved (1Ti 2:4; 2Pe 3:9). And far be it for pride, prejudice and profit to get in our way to preach the truth to the lost, and yet again always in love, in the manner that is most be beneficial to the lost soul.
Today's readings :
1Samuel 28,29; 1Chronicles 9; Acts 19
Acts 19:37 (KJV)
For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
In this rather eventful account, we learn of quite a few important concepts.
Firstly, as mentioned from time to time, our beliefs are often affected by 3 things - pride, prejudice and profit. And it is no doubt profit first that motivated Demetrius to stir up the pride in the followers of Diana. Certainly, we have a multitude of exmaples of profit getting in the way of beliefs, even today.
Secondly, as we read in this particular verse, we see that the apostles and disciples exemplified speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15). They did not preach for "filthy lucre" or "prestige" (c.f. 1Pe 5:2; Phi 1:16) and they went about focusing on the truth rather than putting down others. And this is the pattern that God had shown us. Just simply focus on the Word. There is no need, no cause to thump our chests and hurl insults at the beliefs of others. Doing so will only serve to drive people away and in some cases, bring the hand of the law upon ourselves.
Lastly, it is interesting that a town clerk had the wisdom and level-headedness when he went about resolving the issue. Again, he did not try to take sides but presented facts without any prejudice and intent to stir up further emotions. Even as he appeased the crowd, it was not with vain effusive words but with facts that struck a chord with the people (v.35, 36). And that is how we should resolve conflict. Focus on the matter and hand and layout the facts. As far as possible, get emotions out of the way.
And again, similar to the second point, this is the same attitude that we should adopt when we are sharing the gospel.
Brethren, we need to remind ourselves that ultimately we are ALL human, ALL of whom God desires to be saved (1Ti 2:4; 2Pe 3:9). And far be it for pride, prejudice and profit to get in our way to preach the truth to the lost, and yet again always in love, in the manner that is most be beneficial to the lost soul.
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