Quality Control

Psalm 20:3 (KJV) Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

There are two important understandings here.

The first is to remember our offerings.  And here I don’t think that we’re talking specifically about the temple sacrifices, although that was the focus for the Jews in their day, but even there it goes beyond just the literal legalistic offerings.  Here is to remember.  It is so easy to forget that we serve a living God and we are to serve in a living way.

The second thing that I think is important is to remember that we need God to accept our offerings.  This is a point that is the same for the Jew of ancient Israel or for the Christian today.  God does not look at the ritual.  He’s not impressed that you tithe.  He doesn’t care if you have those old-fashioned medals for attending Sunday school perfectly for 40 years.  He doesn’t care that you have never robbed a bank.  Well yes, of course He cares, but those are not the things that He’s looking at primarily.  He is focusing on your heart and where your heart is.  He wants to know your reason for obedience in going through the rituals.

So?  Be obedient.  That is necessary.  I don’t think it’s just enough to have the right actions.  If you don’t have the right attitude, the right heart, the actions are hollow echoes.