Nougat 20

Speaking with a friend recently, we noted how babies and children often get their own way non-verbally. And often, they do so for things others are challenged to get positive responses. While I’m not saying that the tactic works with God, I’m conscious that God does seem partial towards God’s chosen. What do you think? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat️

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand— you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬, ‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What Pleases God

While children often use tears or tantrums to get their own way with adults, especially parents, it isn’t a good method to adopt as an adult. It gets annoying in minutes. On the other hand, most of us have learned that ‘buttering’ someone up (i.e. doing what pleases the person) is likelier to get desired results. We see this in the Jacob and Esau story, and maybe in our own offices, schools, and homes, too. And, to some extent, we see this with God.

After Saul messed up, God was so displeased that it was as though God regretted handing him the kingdom. So much so that God immediately sought a replacement for Saul.

Ouch!

No one who is dedicated to pleasing God desires to have God regret blessing us. If we’re buttering God up, it may be in our best interest to be genuine in our actions and, more critically, to know what pleases God. For, what good does it serve if we use the wrong thing/action to butter God up?

David, Saul’s replacement, and the man after God’s own heart, quickly discovered that buttering God up wasn’t as much about having his own way as it was about accessing forgiveness when one had done wrong. That is an essential lesson for us all, even today. We’ll find, like David did, that true repentance (i.e., a broken and contrite spirit) goes a very long way with God. It is a proven guarantee for forgiveness.

So away with our beautiful prayers and fasts and protocol observances. In with genuine sorrow for the wrongs we’ve committed. Yes, we need to spend time in prayer, but let’s ensure that it’s not just ritualistic words, void of genuine feelings or substance to them. When we pray, ‘and forgive us our sins’, may it be genuinely accompanied by, ‘as we forgive’ others. If not, it’s merely vain repetition.

Let’s heed the psalmist. Our burnt offering means little to God if it isn’t accompanied by ourselves, living sacrifices.

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May all we seek be found in Christ