Tag: knowledge of God

What is Better Than Sacrifice to God?

What is Better Than Sacrifice to God?

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  (Hos 6:6)

This Scripture verse states two things that God prefers over a burnt offering:

  • Mercy – God wants His people to show compassion and kindness to others, especially anyone who is in need.
  • Knowledge of God – God wants us to know Him, and one important way to do that is to read and to meditate upon His Word.  He has given us His Word in order to allow us to learn all about Him, and about His truth.

So Samuel said:  “Has 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 heed than the fat of rams.  (1 Sam 15:22)

God says clearly here that obedience is better than sacrifice.  He wants us to obey Him and His Word.  He asks us to live in agreement with His Word and His wisdom.

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.  (Pro 21:3)

The Bible passage shown above teaches us that more than sacrifice, the Lord desires:

  • For us to live righteously – This means to live a holy, good, and moral life among men, a life that honors God and obeys the Word of God. 
  • For us to do justice – This means to live with a sense of fairness to all, and to treat everyone equally.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Gal 5:14)

Know Jesus & You’ll Know the Father

Know Jesus & You’ll Know the Father

The Scriptures below remind us that when we know Jesus, then we also know our heavenly Father. 

But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  (Joh 15:21)

Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?”  Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”  (Joh 8:19)

And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.  (Joh 16:3)

It’s our honor and our privilege to come to fully know Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  We do that by reading, studying, and meditating upon the Word of God.  In the Bible, we see verse upon verse explaining to us the nature and personality of the Lord.  The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ is entry into eternal life.

But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these I delight,” says the Lord.  (Jer 9:24)

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  (Joh 17:3)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  (1 Joh 4:7-8)

According to 1 John, God is love.  And everyone who loves is born of God and KNOWS GOD! 

Do you want to know God?  Then learn of His perfect love for YOU; study and meditate upon His love for you. Search out and meditate upon the Bible verses that discuss the love of God, and how His love has been manifested. Once you have received and fully understood His perfect love for you, turn around and shower that love upon everyone in your life, beginning with yourself.  As Matthew 19:19 reminds us, we can only love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Learn about God through His magnificent, matchless love.

Know God = Have Strength & Courage

Know God = Have Strength & Courage

Pursuing a deep, profound knowledge of God and His nature will impart courage and strength to your soul.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  (Josh 1:9)

. . . the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.  (Dan 11:32b, emphasis added)

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.  (Mt 11:12)

. . . strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”  (Ac 14:22)

The better you know God, which is a consequence of studying the Bible and spending time in the presence of the Lord, the greater courage, strength, and boldness you’ll have to serve Him. 

  • You’ll have boldness to be His ambassador on the earth, enforcing the will of God on earth as it is in Heaven. (Mt 6:10) 
  • You’ll have courage and authority to step out in faith and heal the sick, preach the Word, and to testify of God’s love for all mankind. (Deut 31:6; Ps 27:1; 56:3-4; Isa 41:10, 13; Mt 10:1; Mk 6:7; 10:8; Lk 9:1-2; 10:19)
  • Lastly, you’ll have the strength and perseverance needed to pass through tribulations, and to enter the kingdom of God. (Ac 14:22; Col 1:11; Phil 4:13; Ro 15:5)

Deepen your relationship with the Lord so that you KNOW Him deeply; and become bold, strong, and courageous today!

The Weapons of our Warfare

The Weapons of our Warfare

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  (2 Cor 10:4 – emphasis added)

. . . that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  (2 Tim 3:14)  As we study the Bible, the Lord helps us to become mature and to equip us for every good work.

Weak men we may be; but it is not as such that we fight our battles. (2 Cor 10:3 NEB)  We don’t have the mindset of being weak; but rather, we fight because we have a supernaturally mighty friend in Jesus, our Savior. 

What are our weapons?  Our weapons are the Word of God; prayer; preaching the Gospel and teaching the Word of God to all who are hungry.

The Holy Spirit is our Helper, and He accesses the power of God on our behalf. (Zech 4:6)

Paul did not use violence; psychological maneuvering; a crusade of lies against his enemies; political power; money; or denominational loyalty as weapons.  Paul used the spiritual weapons that were at his disposal, revealed to Him by God.

The same weapons that were available to the apostle Paul are available to each one of us today.  Pick up the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) and study to show yourself approved as one who “rightly divides the word of truth.”  (2 Tim 2:15)