Mercy, Not Sacrifice (based loosely on the first chapter of the book of Job)

“I sacrifice, I sacrifice,” the righteous man did say.

“Long hours I toil to satisfy my darling’s needs each day.

This job consumes my life, dear, but I do it all for you,

From Monday up through Saturday, and now on Sundays too.

For me there is no Sabbath rest. I’m married to my work.

It has me in an iron grip. My work I dare not shirk.

You say you want my time, but I do not have it to give.

You see how hard I slave so that my family might live.”

 

And so, the man with fervor climbed his ladder of success,

Although the burden on his shoulders caused him much distress,

For when it came to serving God, he feared his kids might fail,

And that he never would reap any fruit from his travail.

He saw the way they partied. Had they cursed God in their hearts?

Then he must work to save them all from Satan’s fiery darts!

The best of his own toil and sweat this righteous man did pour

Into a fragrant offering that God could not ignore.

 

The best of all he had he sacrificed continually

That God’s forgiveness might rain down on them and set them free.

The man was truly duty-bound. He had no other choice.

Yet his own fleshly toil gave him no reason to rejoice.

For no blood of an animal could satisfy God’s law,

Because such sacrifices are not totally without flaw.

Nor can the righteousness of man atone for sinful pride.

It’s just like fig leaves, leaving him with no true place to hide.

 

Man’s best attempt at righteousness is like a filthy rag,

According to Isaiah. There ‘s no gold inside that bag.

How then can wasted time and talents ever be redeemed?

Not even he whose name was Job could come up with a scheme!

If even he, the man most upright, didn’t have the “stuff,”

Then how could anybody else attempt to do enough?

The truth is, God had His own plan which Job could not yet see,

Until one day he caught God’s notice unexpectedly.

 

Scriptures

Isaiah 64:6   Romans 3:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Entertaining or Training (In Righteousness)?

Dimmed lights enhance the atmosphere, but where’s the Sabbath rest?

Are we in church for entertainment or do we want God’s best?

What is the goal of worship? Is it to train for spiritual war

Or to do religious motions? What have we come here for?

 

It’s fun to please the masses and attract them to our church,

But have we truly led them to the Christ for whom they search?

We know God’s Word is powerful to save, deliver, heal,

But if it doesn’t show His love, then what does that reveal?

 

“You’ve made the scriptures to have no effect through your tradition,”

Jesus told the men bound in religious superstition.

God’s Word was in their minds but yet it wasn’t in their heart.

The Holy Spirit’s presence they neglected to impart.

 

Though in the seat of Moses, a position of respect,

They had no power to cast out demons, heal, or resurrect.

When Jesus healed the man who suffered from a withered hand,

They hated His authority. To have Him killed they planned.

 

And what if He should suddenly appear within our church?

Would we like how we’ve portrayed the One for whom the sheep do thirst?

For if we say “believe for wonders” but don’t show them many,

Aren’t some likely to conclude, “They really haven’t any”?