Week 49: Love over Sacrifice

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: Daniel 9:1-11:1, 1 John 2:18-3:6, Psalm 121:1-8, Proverbs 28:27-28
• Monday: Daniel 11:2-35, 1 John 3:7-24, Psalm 122:1-9, Proverbs 29:1
• Tuesday: Daniel 11:36-12:13, 1 John 4:1-21, Psalm 123:1-4, Proverbs 29:2-4
• Wednesday: Hosea 1:1-3:5, 1 John 5:1-21, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 29:5-8
• Thursday: Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11
• Friday: Hosea 6:1-9:17, 3 John 1:1-14, Psalm 126:1-6, Proverbs 29:12-14
• Saturday: Hosea 10:1-14:9, Jude 1:1-25, Psalm 127:1-5, Proverbs 29:15-17

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of Hosea:

Scripture: Hosea 6:6

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Observation:
Hosea is the first book of a series of 12 books that we call the minor prophets. These prophets are called 'minor prophets', only because the length of these books is rather small compared to the books of the 'major' prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. I think the verse above (verse 6 of chapter 6) was one of Jesus' favorite Bible verses, as he quoted it on several occasions, see for example Matthew 9:13, or Matthew 12:7. Jesus uses this verse in the context of saving sinners, people who have been written off by the so-called religious leaders. He tells these leaders (and us!) that God is more interested in us being merciful, rather than us being religious by bringing our 'sacrifices'.

Application:
The Hebrew word for mercy (Checed), can also be translated as 'lovingkindness', in other words... 'showing love'. Acknowledgment of God, means 'to know God'. So what Hosea is saying is this: to really know God, means to be merciful, or to show love to those who do not deserve it. There have been enough times in my life when I had a really difficult time with that. Times when I felt all 'self righteous' in condemning others. Rather than being merciful, I was only interested in 'being right' and not showing love where I needed to. This verse is a great reminder that God is only interested in my love for others, not my sacrifices. Our Lord Jesus was an example to us, who showed the real meaning of love. Hebrews 10 verse 5 to 7 (which is a quotation of Psalm 40:6-8) says:

5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, my God.' "

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you stir my heart and help me to develop an attitude the same that Christ Jesus had. Help me to be more concerned with my love for others, than to be concerned with my 'righteous sacrifices'. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great week. Enjoy the Bible reading. Stick to your plan!

In Christ,

Dick