“You have not brought Me... offerings, nor honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. You have not bought any fragrant calamus for Me, or lavished on Me the fat of your sacrifices” (Isaiah 43:23-24).
Our Father, teach us to love You fully, to honor and worship You spontaneously. Lord, despite Your goodness, Your mercy, Your grace, and Your faithfulness, You do not put a burden of forced servitude on us.
You ask us to "come to [You]"(Isaiah 55:3), but You desire us to come of our own free will: "The Lord looks down from heaven on all humanity to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God" (Psalm 14:2; Psalm 53:2).
Father, forgive us for rebellious spirits that reject You and refuse to give You thanks or glorify You even though our hearts recognize that You are God (Romans 1:21). Forgive us for wayward hearts that reject Your love and choose instead to become captive to other 'gods' that destroy us.
Even from times past, You instructed Your people to "choose life" for themselves and for their children (Deuteronomy 30:19), but instead, they "built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something [You] did not command or mention, nor did it enter [Your] mind" [Jeremiah 19:5]."
Lord, today, deliver us from "foolish and darkened hearts" (Romans 1:21). Deliver us from evil. Deliver our children from the altars of worldliness and ungodliness. Thank You, that You still "long to be gracious to [us]" (Isaiah 30:18). Thank You for the assurance from our Lord Jesus, "whoever comes to Me I will never drive away" (John 6:37).
Father, we have nothing to bring You. You have no need of our offerings, "for the world is [Yours], and all that is in it" (Psalm 50:12). Thank You that in Your mercy, You ask us to simply come. Thank You for Your simple requirement that we bring only ourselves: “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:14).
O Lamb of God, I come!
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