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Proverbs of a 40 yr old man
A wicked man might sacrifice an animal to give to God. God hates this. The LORD loves the prayer of a good man. He wants us to be holy. He wants us to ask him to forgive us. He wants us to trust in him. No gift can forgive us. Only God, who loves us, can forgive us. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Amen. Be careful to not pray in your heart: God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income. Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it. You have already received your reward in front of people instead of the secret place with your Heavenly Father. No, better to stand at distance and dare not even to lift your eyes to heaven. Instead, beat your chest in godly repentance and sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous. To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice. Jesus has already provided the sacrifice so that we can live from his holy fire. Our God is a consuming and everlasting fire that lives in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers should be lighted by that fire always and not be our own righteousness which is filthy rags. We are living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God in Christ. As we obey Gods Word and present your bodies as a living sacrifice for the Spirit of Christ. Our prayers will rise up to the LORD like a sweet aroma of praise. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
Study Prov. 15:8
