What do we mean by sacrifice?
Does God expect a dismembered animal on a stone altar? Is that what pleases him these days?
Or is it our money? If we give enough, can we gain entrance to heaven?
What does God want from us? Our first-born child? Our vacation spent on the mission field? Maybe we can offer hours and hours on our knees in prayer?
The Word gives us three simple things the Lord desires. When we do these things, he will bask in our sacrifices offered up to him.
Our First Sacrifice:
Philippians 4:4-7 tells us to rejoice in the Father, the Spirit, and the Son. Our joy in God is the foundation on which our spiritual successes will stand.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Our Second Sacrifice:
Colossians 3:16-17 says to stock up on the Word. Read the Bible. Study the scriptures. Sing songs from God’s Word. Do it all joyfully while giving thanks to the Lord for his love and compassion.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Our Third Sacrifice:
Hebrews 13:1-2 reminds us of the importance of compassion and consideration, especially toward strangers. God knows the circumstances and trials they’ve endured, and they come among us to give us the opportunity to reveal God’s love to them.
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Can we give money sacrificially? Certainly. Our time, can that be a sacrifice, also? Absolutely. How about giving up certain foods or activities? Yep. The highest sacrifices, however, involve those that draw us closer to God and to the people he desires us to minister to. When we make those sacrifices, we truly cause the heart of God to be glad.
Our sincere sacrifices of praise rise as a sweet savor unto our Father and God above.
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Code: FGO.I.14.17b.vp.esv