Love and Not Sacrifice

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." 

Hosea 6:6

I've been pondering my love for God recently. This verse is a reminder that God wants my love - He wants a relationship with me. It's not that He doesn't want me to make sacrifices for Him. After all, I am to take up my cross daily and follow Him. (As an aside, this dying to self business is pretty difficult. Has anyone noticed this besides me?) Still, He doesn't want what I can do for Him. He wants ME.  Sort of like when Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better way when she sat at His feet instead of doing household chores. As I keep finding reminders of this, I am deeply comforted and deeply contented. Things are not happy-go-lucky in my life right now. They aren't horrible, but they could be better, you know? That is always true in everyone's life. Still, I am incandescently happy right now because I am fully aware of God's great love for me, and I am determined to love Him back, fiercely and forever.