"It's time to Back the product"

Part 3 of a series titled "To Know Him: The Book of Hosea"

 

The BIG Idea:

 

God doesn't want our worship to involve mindlessly going through the motions and offering God lip service. The sacrifices God wants God's people to offer God are steadfast love and a commitment to know God. To know God and grow in that knowledge requires more than just saying the right words and performing the right sacrifices; it requires our hearts to be engaged in worship and our minds to understand the spiritual significance these sacrifices are to God.

 

"Come, let's return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. ² He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. ³ So let's learn, let's press on to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, as the spring rain waters the earth." ⁴ What shall I do with you, Ephraim? What shall I do with you, Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud, and like the dew which goes away early. ⁵ Therefore I have cut them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and the judgments on you are like the light that shines. ⁶ For I desire loyalty rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. --Hosea 6:1-6 (NASB)

 

A Prayer to Begin the Message:

 

"Holy God, may Your Holy Spirit clothe our minds with wisdom. May the redemption we find in Christ Jesus clothe our hearts with hope. May our Divine Designer clothe our souls with a refreshing sense of awe. We thank You that Your Word still offers transformation for those who choose to call upon the name of Jesus. We pray this in the sacred and holy name of Jesus the Christ. Amen."

 

Part 1 Recap:

 

Whenever we choose to draw near to God, God promises that God will draw near to us.

 

Part 2 Recap:

 

Genuine repentance requires words and actions.

 

ILLUSTRATION: Growing up in the Hardware store with Uncle Wayne--"Back the Product!"

 

ILLUSTRATION: Making promises

 

Have you ever made a promise without being certain you could or would keep it?

 

ILLUSTRATION: The Pew Research study on telling the truth in Congress.

 

Sometimes we say what people want to hear because we want to please or impress them, or to make ourselves look better than we are.

 

Making promises we do not intend to keep is a BIG problem.

God makes it clear throughout the Scriptures that offering these sacrifices with a pure and sincere heart is what God is really interested in for all involved.

However, the king (David) said to Araunah, "No, but I will certainly buy it from you for a price; for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. --II Samuel 24:24 (NASB)

 

Knowing God requires our hearts and minds to be engaged in worship too!

 

God doesn't need or desire worship for the sake of worship.

 

If we are not wholeheartedly engaged in the worship of God, then we are wasting our time and God's time!

 

Two things to consider today:

 

Why do we serve and worship God?

 

Do our words align with what we believe about worship?

 

ILLUSTRATION: Jesus and the child who refuses to swap for a larger gift

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

Have you ever promised or agreed to do something without intending to follow through?

 

How did that decision impact your relationship with the person that you chose to back out on with your unkept promise?

 

What were some of the ways Israel chose not to keep her word?

 

What were the reasons Israel wanted to return to the Lord?

 

What blessings was Israel hoping to receive from God by knowing and worshiping God?

 

Why do the reasons we offer praise, sacrifices, and worship to God matter to God?

 

Why do you choose to serve God and others?

 

Do your words align with what you believe about worship?