“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs and goats.” (Isaiah 1:11 NKJV).
Many of us do “good” things in an attempt to win the favor of either God or man. Sacrifices, although noble in the eyes of man, can be a stench in the nostrils of God. Your journal is a great place to interact with the truth found in Isaiah 1:11-13.
Use your journal to explore the following:
- Write a list of all of your current responsibilities. Jot down everything that comes to mind, even the small things.
- Now go through your list and consider your source of motivation – love or duty – for each of the items. Next to each item write either an “L” for love, or a “D” for duty.
- Tally up the number of “Ls” and the number of “Ds.” Which is your strongest source of motivation – love or duty?
- Are there things on the list that you are doing in an attempt to earn favor with God or man? Write about those things, as well as the effect the performance mentality has on your emotional and spiritual well being.
- Do you get frustrated when people fail to appreciate the sacrifices you make for them? Write about how you handle the frustration.
- It’s possible that some of the things you are doing out of duty could be done from a heart of love. How can you shift your focus from duty to love in the daily responsibilities of your life?
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