This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. But those who choose their own ways— delighting in their detestable sins—will not have their offerings accepted. When such people sacrifice a bull, it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice. When they sacrifice a lamb, it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog! When they bring an offering of grain, they might as well offer the blood of a pig. When they burn frankincense, it’s as if they had blessed an idol. I will send them great trouble—all the things they feared. For when I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned before my very eyes and chose to do what they know I despise.” [Isaiah 66.1-4]
Grace! Grace!
It is interesting that God said through Isaiah that regardless the value of the peoples' sacrifices, He would not accept them. Why? Because their hearts were proud and rebellious - they were unrepentant.
Okay, get ready for this... There is a reason Jesus Himself declared, "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." Because, without repentance, even His own shed blood could not redeem mankind.
When God calls and we do not answer... When God speaks and we do not listen... There is no grace. No sacrifice - not even the blood of God's own Son - saves the unrepentant.
Grace is for the repentant and no other. That is why God said, "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts..."
Father, there is little more to be said about this topic. There is no relationship with You where there is no repentance.
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