Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Again and again and again in the Old Testament God tells us that heart attitude is far more important than religious forms. Then in the New Testament, Jesus’ biggest enemies were those who did the religious forms most perfectly. You’d think we’d learn something from that! However, even today people are caught up in forms and dogmas and labels of all sorts, forgetting to press into God from their hearts. I’m reminded of a frequent situation in marriages, where each partner gives the other what they think the partner wants, instead of finding out what they want. That’s led to quite a few divorces! In marriage it’s often a case of each one failing to make it clear what they want, but that’s certainly not the case with God. He has given us the Bible, using many faithful saints to do so, and on top of that He provides His Spirit to speak to us directly. If we don’t know what He wants, it’s because we haven’t been humble enough to get quiet enough to listen. In this verse, where the NIV says “mercy,” the Japanese renders it as “integrity,” and where the NIV says “acknowledgment of God,” the Japanese says “knowing God.” Such differences make me want to know Hebrew, but maybe not enough to put in the years of study! In any case, the point is clear: God cares about who we are more than what we do.

I was blessed to be raised by parents of deep integrity who really did know God, so the bar was rightly set very high for me early on. Today I find it a real honor and blessing that people seem to think I have followed my parents’ footsteps pretty closely, yet I am very aware of my own imperfections. It is a constant challenge to help people make the internal changes that will result in desired outward changes. Often the people themselves focus on the outward things and beat themselves up over what they do or don’t do. (Come to think of it, I do too!) I need to remember that God is going to supply everything necessary for us to do and be what He desires, and just keep pressing into Him and encouraging others to do likewise. At times I am to give specific correction and direction, as Paul speaks of “admonishing one another.” (Colossians 3:16) However my focus, both for myself and for those whom I lead, needs to be on the inner person more than the outer activity.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the real progress I’m seeing in some to whom I minister. Thank You for the progress I’m experiencing myself, however small. Help me indeed have the integrity You desire, knowing You as I am known by You, so that I may be a clean, effective tool in Your hands, doing Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!