Mercy VS Sacrifice



As I was doing my quiet time today, I opened my Bible, asking God to speak to me today. The passage that I opened up too was Hosea 6. After reading for a moment, I was like, um... okay, this is not what God is using to speak to me cause I am not getting anything, must be something else in store for me. So I flipped through, and stopped on the next passage which was in Matthew 9. I continued to read through to chapter 12. As I was reading a sentence jumped off the page, first in Matt. 9:13. God requires Mercy not Sacrifice.  And the same thing is repeated in Matt. 12:27. I noticed that the verse also had a reference, and guess what, the reference was to Hosea 6:6. The exact chapter that I had dismissed as not relevant for my life. God is pretty cool if you ask me, has a way of reminding me always that he is bigger than I give him credit for... Anyways, I began thinking about why was God pointing this specific scripture out to me. And I just kept reading his word. And this is the train of thought I was lead through:


For I desire steadfast love (Mercy) and not Sacrifice, the knowledge 
of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hos 6:6 )

To Obey God is better than Sacrifice. (1 Sam. 15:22)

... to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Mic. 6:8)

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. 
Love your neighbor as yourself is more important that
all burnt offerings and sacrifices.( Mark 12:33)


So all together I understood this, and felt this was to share with all of you who read this blog... What are you doing in your life that you consider a "sacrifice" to God. I know that in today's world, we no long do literal burnt offerings or sacrifice animals to cover our sins, but I think we do tend to still have a mindset that if I do this for God, sacrifice my time, or volunteer for this at church, somehow it gives me permission to do the things in life that may not bring God glory, but brings me pleasure. But God desires MERCY. Mercy is compassion and grace. And that ties directly in with the whole theme of the Bible, "Love God, Love People." Without Love in what we do, we are just warm bodies taken up space. We are just noise with no meaning. And actions just for the sake of actions, don't earn us special points with God, they mean nothing actually. But God desires for us to walk with him, and to bring glory to him, not to ourselves.And most importantly to share that love with everyone around us. Love mercy. How often do we not show mercy? Someone upsets us, and we lash out, instead of showing mercy. Someone is begging on the street, and we look with disapproval instead of showing mercy. But I think we can only understand mercy and how to show it, when we spend time with God. That is where is all starts. Time with God in his word and in lots of prayer. Prayer has to be our first response in any and all circumstances. Like I posted previously, we can't change all circumstances around us for good, but we can pray.  

This life that we have is so short. We are not promised tomorrow.So what are we living for today? What am I living for today? What does your life reflect that your living for? Our lives should reflect Love. Our actions should show mercy.  I just want to encourage you, because this is what God is encouraging me with-- Walk with God humbly and with all you are- love him and follow HIS ways. Love others and show compassion and mercy in all that you do. Our time is short on this earth. Be careful that you do not get caught up in things that only have earthly value. Invest your time in things that have an eternal value. Don't miss out on what God has in store for you. God desires true fellowship with you, not merely the actions of doing the right thing. 


On other things: Today we got invited to the First Grade classes' graduation ceremony. The kids were excited that we came, and all of them were asking if we had come to do a lesson with them. I hope that you will continue to join with me in prayer for these little ones, that God will shine on them, protect them, and heal their hearts from the abandonment these kids go through. Here are a few pictures from the day... 
At the ceremony. The kids all had a letter of the 
ukrainian alphabet on their heads.


Cake and cookies in the classroom afterwards. 


My buddy, Svyatchislav




A little sibling of one the kids. 


My mom with Nastya. 


Little Yura. He just makes me smile:)








And a Video of them singing:) 


And that is all for today. Hope you will continue to pray and give. And pray that more workers come to Ukraine to share Christ, to love, and to show mercy! Maybe that might even be you? :)



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