Obedience and Sacrifice
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When obedience and sacrifice become the same act, the Father is pleased.
Cain and Saul offered up sacrifice without obedience. Even though they brought things before the Lord and acted as though they built something for Him, they did not know the heart of God. Their sacrifices were rejected because it was not what God had asked them for. Fire falls not on the altar, but rather on the sacrifice. To obey is better than to sacrifice.
However, obedience without sacrifice is cheapened. If we do only obey when it costs us nothing, then we are acting out of convenience rather than obedience. When our sacrifice flows from obedience, it is received. Jesus serves as the ultimate example of combining sacrifice and obedience.
The Japan gathering was a collection of sacrifices; a gathering of people from many nations who chose to obey and seek His heart and sacrifice in their own way. Because of the nations laying themselves down, life was brought even to Japan, a place that had been kept from fully receiving the Lord for hundreds of years.
What does this mean for us? We are each accountable to what God has spoken and revealed to us. The Lord has deposited His beauty to each of us in a unique way. We must check our own heart and know what we bring to the table. We are each accountable to what God has spoken and revealed to us. And, in response, we need to know what He desires for us to sacrifice, and give in obedience to Him.
In this coming season, let us know what is on His heart, and what we can bring to the table!
