40 Days of PRAYER
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 21 | OUR PRAYERS PLEASE OUR LORD | Proverbs 15:8
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 21 | OUR PRAYERS PLEASE OUR LORD | Proverbs 15:8
OUR PRAYERS PLEASE OUR LORD
Proverbs 15:8
“The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.”
We have two 13-month-old golden retrievers – Bentley and Porsche, brother and sister. (Figured we weren’t getting the cars, so why not?) They are energetic and eager to please. It’s just how they were made. And that helps us when we’re trying to train them… they want to please.
Have you ever had someone in your life you wanted to make proud of you? Maybe have them smile about an accomplishment of yours? Perhaps a parent or a teacher?
Here we learn that the LORD is not impressed with the sacrifices of the wicked. In fact, he DETESTS it. You see, without Christ, sacrifices are simply religious rituals. And religious ritual is an “abomination to the Lord” (NAS translation).
This verse points out, again, the difference between religion and our faith, Christianity.
World religions tell people what they have to do so that God will be happy (or impressed) with them. They are trying to reach God by their own strength and actions.
Our faith in Christ tells us that the only way to be right with God is to accept what HE DID FOR US. He reached down because we can NEVER reach Him; we can NEVER do enough to compensate for being sinners. We have to accept what Jesus did on the cross and His rising from the grave for salvation.
But after we have accepted Him as Lord and Savior – Wow! He gives us the Holy Spirit to live inside us, He listens to our prayers, and THEY please Him.
It’s called GRACE. “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”
Prayer: LORD, I could never do enough to be worthy of heaven. Thank You for providing a way. I am so happy to be one of Yours. Amen.
Proverbs 15:8
“The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.”
We have two 13-month-old golden retrievers – Bentley and Porsche, brother and sister. (Figured we weren’t getting the cars, so why not?) They are energetic and eager to please. It’s just how they were made. And that helps us when we’re trying to train them… they want to please.
Have you ever had someone in your life you wanted to make proud of you? Maybe have them smile about an accomplishment of yours? Perhaps a parent or a teacher?
Here we learn that the LORD is not impressed with the sacrifices of the wicked. In fact, he DETESTS it. You see, without Christ, sacrifices are simply religious rituals. And religious ritual is an “abomination to the Lord” (NAS translation).
This verse points out, again, the difference between religion and our faith, Christianity.
World religions tell people what they have to do so that God will be happy (or impressed) with them. They are trying to reach God by their own strength and actions.
Our faith in Christ tells us that the only way to be right with God is to accept what HE DID FOR US. He reached down because we can NEVER reach Him; we can NEVER do enough to compensate for being sinners. We have to accept what Jesus did on the cross and His rising from the grave for salvation.
But after we have accepted Him as Lord and Savior – Wow! He gives us the Holy Spirit to live inside us, He listens to our prayers, and THEY please Him.
It’s called GRACE. “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”
Prayer: LORD, I could never do enough to be worthy of heaven. Thank You for providing a way. I am so happy to be one of Yours. Amen.