¹³ Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.^[a] For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13 CSB)

We may be called to some form of sacrifice, but Jesus was echoing Old Testament scripture when He made this statement. He was talking about a time when the Jewish people were more interested in the act of sacrifice than the outcome.

At times we too may be more focused upon what we do as part of our ministry as opposed to what God is doing through our act. Truly, anything done as part of our ministry to others is totally about God and not about what we are doing. We can even look at the act of going to church as being fed as opposed to actually worshiping God. While there is an element of any worship act of us being lifted up, more importantly, it should be about us lifting up our service and others to God.

Thus, as Christ says, mercy is greater than sacrifice. He is watching our acts to see if they are inward or outward. Are we doing them for our selves or for others?

In truth every outward act for others should create in us an inward reaction. Our growth comes from inward study and reflection and outward action.