Spiritual Sacrifices

 “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

“It’s a good thing we don’t have animal sacrifices anymore. Otherwise, this altar would be a mess right now.”

I had to turn my mind away from the imagery our pastor created Sunday. Squeamish at the sight of blood, I knew I had been born at the right time. But since then, I’ve haven’t been able to get the idea of spiritual sacrifices out of my mind.

Blood sacrifices were often described as a “pleasing aroma” to God. I wondered, What is a pleasing aroma to him today?

What kind of spiritual sacrifices does he expect from us?

So in an effort to bring my spiritual sacrifices to God’s altar, I combed the Bible to find out what he desires of us. Perhaps this will help you in your quest to live a life pleasing to God.

Sacrifice of Praise– In Hebrews 13:15, it says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.  There’s a reason we offer continual praise through Jesus. Non-stop praise is difficult for us to accomplish in the flesh, and we need Jesus to give us the strength to keep the flow of praise going. Most of us tend to lean toward continual criticism instead of praise. God want us to bite our tongue, and choose praise rather than condemnation.

Sacrifice of Finances- When Paul received financial support from the Philippians, and was “amply supplied,” he called it a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. God provides financially so we can provide for others. In Malachi 3, he asks for only ten percent back of what he has given us, then challenges us to test him, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10). Paul seems to agree with Malachi 3:10 in his words of gratitude for the Philippians’ giving when he says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). We cannot out-give God. When we give, he gives right back.

Sacrifice of Prayer- God wants us to lay our concerns at his altar. Paul tells us not to be anxious about anything, “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Often times, we go to friends, rather than God with our problems. We lay our burdens at their feet rather than at God’s feet. Friends and family members only have opinions about how to handle our issues, but our Father in Heaven is the ultimate problem solver.

In Psalm 141:2, David says, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” In Revelation 5:8, our prayers are described as “golden bowls of incense” at God’s altar. They are a pleasing aroma to God. God wants to hear from us. When was the last time you talked with him?

Sacrifice of Obedience- Maybe you’re one of those who think rules were made to be broken, and you don’t like living a life like the Bible suggests. While Christ’s one-time sacrifice on the cross makes us holy, and pleasing to God, we cannot keep on sinning.

Hebrews 10:26 says, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. God wants us to be sold out to him.

Sacrifice of Love-Loving God and loving our neighbor is the ultimate sacrifice. Why is it a sacrifice? Because we don’t always love everyone that crosses our path. Instead, we’re jealous, hurt, unaccepting, or we simply can’t put a finger on why we don’t like someone. It’s just their grating personality, we think.

However, when Jesus was asked what the two greatest commandments were, he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31). Jesus then added a footnote saying these commandments are more important than “burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Loving even our enemies. Another pleasing aroma that rises to God’s throne.

What do you need to lay at the altar today? Your spiritual sacrifice?

As a child of God, we are bought with a price, the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Nothing else is required, but why wouldn’t we want to sacrifice our lives because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us?

Our spiritual sacrifices are important. It should be our desire to follow Jesus in every way possible, even if it means putting our personal agendas on the back burner. When we do this, the sweet perfume from our lives will rise up to God, and the aroma will be intoxicating.