What Good?

I wrote a devotional one night for the next day; yet, when I woke up to post it, I felt lead to write a different devotional and post the one I was writing that moment. Initially, I thought, “Man I can’t just post the one I am writing another day.”

I was thinking of posting it for the next day because I was considering all the things I had to do and how it would be more convenient for me, if I were to write and post the one that was laid upon my heart that moment, another day.

Yet, I did as I felt lead. I wrote what was on my heart. As a result, several people emailed me stating how what I wrote was so timely. They encouraged me by thanking me for being obedient and to continue with the ministry. I was amazed because it was that moment I realized “my obedience was not just for me but it is obedience for serving the Lord.”

Many have heard the point of Isaiah proclaiming “obedience is better than sacrifice.” He begins by telling of his vision:

""I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand." Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness-- only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil. Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers. The Daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a city under siege. Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! "The multitude of your sacrifices-- what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats" (Isaiah 1:1-11).

God chastised the people of Israel. Isaiah was given a vision which revealed the future of what the people would become and how to get there.

How obedient are you today? Are you following the crowd? Have you been stagnate to do as he Lord says based on your conditions or perhaps what is most convenient to you? What good is your sacrifice, if you lack obeying the word of God?

We all have what we need to do, what God has appointed us to do. Yet we see our circumstance and dare to tell the Lord, no, and many of us don’t even ask for forgiveness. God is still saying, what good is your sacrifice; He wants your obedience and faithfulness.

Consider saying yes, when He directs you. Neglect your conditions or following the crowd and follow the one with the true crown. Ask the Lord to help you acknowledge beyond what He is telling you to do but do as He says do. Call upon the Lord to forgive you for being stubborn. Pray to the Lord that in doing what He directs, you gain favor in His sight. For what good is your sacrifice?