Romans 12:1 calls God’s people to give our bodies as living sacrifices as an act of worship to our Lord. While most sacrifices ended up dead, Saint Paul is calling us to ‘die’, you might say, by living sacrificially for God. Let’s see this week how that works in scripture.

Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did.

The first offerings to God recorded were from brothers Cain (fruit) and Abel (livestock). Abel pleased God, but Cain’s was not received favorably; Why? Hebrews 11 tells us that faith is what made the difference – not the offering itself. We are even told that Abel was righteous, not because of his offering, but because of his faith. In the same way – we are righteous, not because of any offering we give – but because of our faith (in Jesus Christ as Lord). In fact, our faith is what makes any offering pleasing to God. And even that faith is gifted to us by God (see 2 Peter 1:1)

We step into this week celebrating You, Father, giver of all good gifts, including faith;

We celebrate You, Jesus, in whom our faith rests;

We celebrate You, Holy Spirit,  who strengthens our faith daily as we live for God;

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Ephesians 5:2

Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

When we live a life that expresses love toward others, Paul depicts that life as a parallel to the life of love Jesus lived out – described as a fragrant offering to God. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were often described as pleasant aromas to the Lord as they honored the man-God relationship.

Lord, may I provide a pleasant aroma for You today – and for every day after that You give me to live in the broken yet beautiful world. I want to be a living sacrifice for You in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Mark 12:33

To love the Lord with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Not only is acting from love a God-pleasing concept, it’s converse is also true: Making sacrifices and offerings without love is not God-pleasing at all. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 to appreciate the importance of love in relation to the sacrifices and religious gestures that we make. Living-sacrifice action with loving-sacrifice attitude is to key.

Lord, may every act and sacrificial gesture I share be founded in love – love that first came from You to me.

Amen.

Isaiah 53:10

it was the LORD's will to crush him…[make] his life a guilt offering

Isaiah taught prophetically that it was the will of God the Father to crush the servant described in Isaiah 53. That servant would end up to be His own beloved Son Jesus (which the Father knew!). This heart-wrenching but heartfelt choice made Jesus’ life a guilt offering for the sins of others. This helps us to remember that our sacrifices are not intended to offset our guilt or shame regarding our personal sin; Jesus’ offering already accomplished that. Our sacrifices are rather instead acts of appreciation – of thanks to God.

Daddy, [Abba, Father] Thank you for loving me; teach me to live my life as a gift to You.

Amen.

Philippians 4:18

They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

“They” refers to gifts that had been sent from the Philippian people to help Paul with his mission work beyond Philippi. Offering our God-given resources to reach other people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is another of those great fragrant aromas that please God. Imagine the great variety of aromas that exist in any given cologne shop. Now imagine the diversity of pleasing aromas that can be offered to God in any given church family.

Father, let it be our heart’s desire to provide a great aroma with our offerings to help with Your ministry and mission work.

Amen

Psalms 116:17

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

This vow – to sacrifice a thank offering – was expected to be given in the presence of God’s people while gathered at the Lord’s House. Come again this weekend and offer your sacrifice of thanks in the presence of God’s people gathered for worship in God’s house.

Lord, like the Psalm writer, I too commit to praise You in the presence of Your people.

Amen.

Psalms 56:12

I am under vows to You, O God; I will present my thank offerings to You.

The origin of this vow relates to being delivered from death at the hands of enemies. It makes a great parallel to our lives: The reason that we vow to live a life of love and sacrifice to God is because He has delivered us from the enemies of sin, death, and the devil. For your meditation, Read Hebrews 2:14-17 to be reminded of how your thank offering relates to His sin/guilt offering.

Lord, [insert your prayer here]

Amen.