Reality not Rituals
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)
When we find repetition in the pages of our Bibles as we do in these early chapters of Hebrews, we know there is a purpose behind it. As Christian believers, we have learned to trust the divine wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit of God. The Spirit knows that we do not quickly apprehend divine truth. We must read or hear it more than once. God's method of instruction is "Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there" (Isaiah 28:10)—until we have received and learned and benefited.
In this process of learning, God has some problems with us. One problem is that we get bored. Thankfully, God is faithful and persistent. He is not disposed to let us go. He keeps telling us to go on learning, to go on believing, to go on rejoicing in His Word. He is God and we can trust Him as He leads us and reveals His will to us.
Now, on God's side I speak with reverence but with plainness when I say that God became tired of those Old Testament rituals and sacrifices. It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats can purge away sin. God says as much through the prophet Isaiah:
'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. When you come to meet with me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?' (Isaiah 1:11–12).
In effect, Isaiah was saying to the people of Israel, "God grows weary of your sacrifices and offerings when your hearts and minds are not in tune with Him!" Probably if we are sufficiently thoughtful and concerned, this same message would cause us to reassess a popular notion among us. We presume we are impressing high heaven by attending churches in large numbers. Surely God is still asking, "Who told you to do this? When you come before Me, who has required this of you? Bring no more vain oblations!"
Prayer
O God, it seems impossible to me that You would permit me to know You, to experientially know You. Spirit of God, take me deeper into communion with God.
Thought
Unless they express our whole heart, God is not impressed with our oblations—our acts of worship, our good works, our giving. As we open ourselves fully to Him, the Spirit will teach us and keep on teaching us.
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