Why does God say that He desires for us to have mercy and intimate knowledge of Him rather than for us to make sacrifices of burnt offerings (Hosea 6: 6)? He said it because sacrificing from the heart trumps sacrificial duty. We may give up things because it seems to be the right thing to do, but God is looking at the source of our efforts— our hearts (Proverbs 21: 2, 3).

God knows what true sacrifice is. He demonstrated it by giving up His Son to help us. It was love from within His heart that motivated Him to do so. He loved the world and threw everything about Himself into saving it. It wasn’t a duty. It was merciful concern for our welfare.

In like manner are we to sacrifice. That means more than just giving up our time contributing to official church functions and positions. Though those things are important, God is more interested in whether we care about each other by doing what’s good and by sharing (Hebrews 13: 16). That would also include the willingness to share each other’s burdens (Galatians 6: 1, 2). That especially applies to fellow believers, but even extends to unbelievers too. This necessitates involvement away from the church building. It calls for pouring one’s life into the lives of others (Philippians 2: 17, 18).

That’s what a change of heart will accomplish and is why God desires that change for each of us. Psalm 51: 17 takes note of that. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— these, O God, You will not despise.”

Sincere prayer for this state of being will be granted. It has to be. It’s within God’s will (1 John 5: 14, 15). By His grace, we can become imitators of His sacrifice in terms of being wholly committed. As such, we fulfill that which the apostle Paul says is our reasonable service to God (Romans 12: 1).

The main point is this. For sacrifice to be acceptable to God, it must come from a heart of love for God and others (Mark 12: 33). Otherwise, it is worthless in God’s eyes (1 Corinthians 13: 3).