Psalm 51:16-17

Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit—O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13, and Matthew 12:7 all echo that God does not desire sacrifice, but instead He desires mercy. A broken spirit and a repentant heart are not things that can be purchased at a store, or built by human hands. The law of the Old Testament, while it reveals to us our sin, cannot change our hearts on its own. We are called to repentance as a response to the love of God shown to us in Jesus; it is His blood that purchased our lives. Our obedience to God is to believe in the One He has sent to restore us from our sin. God wants a living, breathing, every day relationship with us. Surrender everything, place your hope in Jesus alone every day, and find yourself loving God. Jesus says, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:24-NIV)