Proverbs 21:3

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Proverbs 21:3 

            In the Old Testament, the children of Israel were to take animal sacrifices before God, in order to reflect a right relationship with God, by offering religious, ceremonial sacrifices. Today, we are no longer required to offer animal sacrifices but it’s easy to think that all God desires is an outward religious practice; where we look to what we do and give God a list of activities, of sacrifices we’ve made in order to please Him. But we see here that pleasing the Lord is much more than outward religious practices.

God desires us to live in a way in which His righteousness and justice is reflected in our day-to-day lives. God is pleased in a life in which we don’t follow our own standards of righteousness or justice but follow His. Deuteronomy 32:4 states, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” God is pleased when we submit to His desires, reflect Him for who He is, according to His standards of righteousness and justice. May this verse encourage us to seek to reflect His standard of righteousness and justice, in which He will be well pleased. 

For His Kingdom, 

Alex Alfaro