“‘What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
Matthew 21:28-32

Over and over again, we are shown and told that God doesn’t want a crowd simply following the rules for the sake of following the rules while their hearts are in a totally different place. God doesn’t want lip service and lives then lived contrary to His own desire. It has been emphasized so many times that walking with Jesus, following God, requires relationship,not just being ‘religious’ (in whatever degrees and definitions that describes.)

No. It is better to hear the will of God, refuse it and then reconsider your actions, than it is to say, ‘Yes, Lord, of course, Lord.’ and never move an inch toward what God wants for us. A repentant heart, moved to obedience out of respect and love for God is so much closer to the mark than the heart that lies and never obeys.

YHWH is no deaf, dumb and dead god carved by the hands of man and dreamed up in their own hearts. He lives, moves, and is almighty over us and every aspect of our lives. He is sovereign and knows the minds and hearts of all mankind. He holds all of creation in His hands, and He is ruler over it all. He cannot be deceived, even if we deceive ourselves with the lies we spin and weave.

Scripture says that God desires mercy over sacrifices, and in another place, obedience over all the rituals band holy days that can be observed. He says it so many different times, and in so many different ways.

He wants your heart.

We who have first been loved by Him? We, seeing this awesome love, mercy and grace at work should be compelled to love Him fully in return. It isn’t a bribe or blackmail. It is love, pure and simple. God must be just, or He is not God. God must be honest, or He is not God. But He is also gracious, loving and merciful.

In order to receive grace, and to live in His love, we cannot lie to Him and pay Him lip service. Once baptized into Christ, we must walk that path of love, living in the obedience that love creates. Thankful lives, joyful lives, gladly moving and bearing witness to His love, are not hard to live if we will just be obedient and put selfishness aside.

It’s not about us, our pride, our will, our desires, but about Him. Every day, all the time, all about Him. And why? Because He is God. It is right that He is over and above us, the created. To change it to anything else would have Him subservient to us, and then He wouldn’t even be God anymore. He humbled Himself, took on flesh, and bore our sins through death and back. He is our hero, our Master and our Lord. He is over all.

So, GoLove as you have been loved, and return the same love to the One who loves you best of all with your whole heart and life.