Sacrifice has been a part of worship almost from the very beginning of this world. We find the thought begun with Cain and Abel – a sacrifice was to be offered as a way of worshipping the Almighty God. As Christians, we know that Jesus gave Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, and we no longer offer the animal sacrifices and such as they did before. Yet, the principle of sacrifice being part of worship hasn’t changed, as the principles laid down by God’s law still apply. It’s true that sacrifice is often portrayed in terms of money – giving an offering for some cause, i.e.: Forgo your coffee for one week, and give the money for missions, etc. However, truth be told, in the New Testament, the word “sacrifice” is never used in reference to money or income of any kind.
I puzzled over that. Giving money seems, to the New Testament church, to be considered a matter of normalcy. Our tithes would be paid, and people would give to support the church and those who were teaching them in the ministry. Period. Today, we are called upon to “sacrifice” financially for this cause, and that cause, and another cause – so we give our extra “coffee money” and feel good about ourselves because we sacrificed…. or not. Simply put, Christians will give their money to make sure God’s work is supported. Every Christian. Period.
What, then, is sacrifice? Sacrifice is still part of worship, that much is clear. The principle begun in the Old Testament law still applies. If not blood sacrifices, because Jesus paid that price once and for all, then what? Here is what I found in my search through the New Testament portion of God’s Word:
Our bodies. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul the apostle begs his readers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice. He says that it is every person’s common-sense service to the Almighty God. The sacrifice of ourselves is also the way that we will know what God’s perfect will is for our lives. Our intricate, and perhaps failing, bodies should be His by right, but sin and Satan have taken control. Since we have been redeemed and remade a child of God, we ought to present these bodies as a living sacrifice. Not a dead sacrifice, as was the case with the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament, but living – ongoing, daily, useful, hopeful, blessed.
Praise. I found these words written in God’s Word, “By Him (Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks unto His name.” (Hebrews 13:15) Praise is another sacrifice to be offered unto God. Recently I read that, on average, people complain once every 60 seconds. Ouch. I started trying to think through the words I had just said to see if I had been complaining! However, if this is true, it is no wonder that praise is called a sacrifice. It is not always the easiest thing to do! Notice also, that praise is not a feeling – it is called the fruit of our lips. Words. Not thankful emotions or thoughts, but actually speaking praise out loud. Even when the car breaks down, or the children break down, or my best-laid plans break down. It’s so easy to tell God He is praised when the morning light is breaking and the sky is clear and the sun is rising. Praise is another matter altogether when the day is done, and the body is done, but the laundry isn’t and neither is the mind! Offer the sacrifice…praise.
Doing Good. Paul, in his letter to the Philippian church, commends them for the helpful gift that had been sent to meet his physical and material needs. He calls it “a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing unto God.” (Phil. 4:18) I also found in Hebrews 13:16 that “doing good” is a sacrifice with which God is wellpleased. Why is doing good to others, or giving material goods to meet others’ needs a sacrifice? I wonder if it has to do with the focus. I am meeting someone else’s need whether mine are being met or not. Jesus also said that to love our neighbor as ourself was the ultimate sacrifice. We are inundated in this society with the directives to find ourselves, know ourselves, get in touch with our feelings, etc. However, Jesus didn’t teach or act in this way. He was willing to sacrifice Himself in a way we may never fully comprehend. Surely, as His follower, I can also sacrifice by shifting the focus from me to others.
Fellowship. In Hebrews 13:16, another sacrifice which is well-pleasing to God is to “communicate”. (KJV) The word in our modern English could be translated “fellowship”. Spending time in fellowship with other believers is a well-accepted sacrifice with our Father! Perhaps you are one who might feel that it is not a sacrifice to spend time in fellowship with other people, but I would venture to say there are some reading this who would - and I know, for me, at times it is a sacrifice. When life is not what I expected, perhaps not what I wanted – when the people I need to fellowship with rub me the wrong way, those are times when it could be a sacrifice to fellowship. Yet it is a sacrifice that I can offer, in worship, and I know that God my Father will be pleased.
Faith. Paul mentions the sacrifice of faith in Philippians 2:17. I wonder if faith is the greatest sacrifice of all! I think faith has been watered down too much in our Christian culture – “of course, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God,” so…. that’s faith, and that’s that. But that is not the definition of faith in the Bible. Faith is believing that what I can’t see, hear, touch, or experience is fact. When I believe that Jesus has forgiven my sins, and act accordingly, that’s faith. When I believe that God will provide for all of my needs – emotional, physical, spiritual, financial – and act accordingly, that’s faith. When I believe that I will see Jesus for myself one day, and act accordingly, that’s faith. When I believe that I have a real relationship with Jesus, and act accordingly, that’s faith. I could go on, but I hope you noted the common factor: When I believe that…and act accordingly. Really believing means that I will think and act on what I believe. That’s faith, and it constitutes a sacrifice with which God is so happy! Offering sacrifices such as these ought to make up my days, and if they do, then I am worshipping all week! Which is how all Christians ought to live. When I come to Sunday worship, I should simply be bringing with me these sacrifices that have been laid upon the altar all week long – what a sweet smell it is to my Father!
Worshipping together,
Katherine
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