Sacrifice

Good Morning,

The Bible teaches a great deal about sacrifices. The first sacrifice began with God’s sacrifice of a lamb (we suppose) to make robes for Adam and Eve.  Throughout the Old Testament, many sacrifices were made, and each sacrifice has a special meaning to God.  Though, the sacrifices did not end with the coming of our Lord; rather, the spiritual application of those sacrifices began with Christ, "The Lamb of God."

In our lives, as spiritual priests, we are to offer up acceptable sacrifices to God.  We understand that a sacrifice costs something to the one who offers it.  A penny given to a child is no sacrifice to a working adult.  A sacrifice must include a cost.  Notice these few examples of New Testament sacrifices:

Our Bodies

Romans 12:1  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Our Praise and Thanksgiving

Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Our Financial Gifts to the Ministry and to the Poor

Hebrews 13:16 “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (The word communicate is a financial term in this verse.)

Philippians 4:18 “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”

Service of Others

Philippians 2:17 “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.”

As I said at the beginning, a sacrifice cost us, and in many cases, it hurts.  

When we are suffering or sick, it is difficult to offer praise and thanksgiving to God, yet it is right and pleasing to Him. We are to praise God because He is good not because our lives are good. 

Offering our bodies to the Lord's will perhaps include attending church when we are tired, moving to a mission field, or avoiding certain activities to please God. It may be that in so doing we may lose friends, but this sacrifice also pleases the Lord.

Serving others to the point of hurting is not wrong; it is a sacrifice. That is what Paul was talking about when he penned, “…offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith…” (Philippians 2:17)   The bus worker who misses many weekend activities to visit the bus route or pick up people for church or the choir member who shows up early for practice (but could show up just in time for church) both forfeit their time to make the church service more pleasing to others. These sacrifices are pleasing to God. 

In the area of finances, our giving can also be a sacrifice and pleasing to God.  Do not fret if your financial support of the ministry costs you or even hurts you.  Did the sheep only offer wool (a painless, soon replaced gift to others)?  No, countless sheep were sacrificed in the Old testament, and their blood was pleasing to God.  

Sacrifices please God.  To offer something to the Lord that is expensive or painful to give honors God and pleases Him greatly.  

Pastor