“Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting – they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.” Isaiah 1:13 NLT
We watch movies and television to be entertained. Pre-Covid, we would attend a circus or sporting event to be entertained. We would attend musicals, the ballet, or perhaps the symphony to be entertained. But in this chapter, God is pretty clear that He is not looking for us to entertain Him with our offerings and actions. In fact, when our “offerings” to Him lack substance and sincerity, they are sinful, false, and they disgust Him.
So what does the Lord ask of us?
“Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways.” Isaiah 1:16 NLT
God wants our heart. In order to give up our evil ways, we must abandon that which He detests and give way to the Lord’s commands and instructions. Upon doing so, we become transformed and more like Him. And when we seek the Lord above all else, He will give us our hearts desires.
Lock Your Wings 
““What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.”
Isaiah 1:11 NLT
It’s not about the ceremony or the show, it’s the heart and the desire to want to be more like Christ. All the public sacrifice has no value if privately there’s no desire to change.
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