From:
The Handbook of Bible ApplicationSACRIFICE (Discipline, Gift, Offering)
What types of sacrifice are pleasing to God?BIBLE READING: 1 Chronicles 21:1-30
KEY BIBLE VERSE: But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” (1 Chronicles 21:24 , niv)
God is pleased with a sacrifice that costs us something. When David wanted to buy Araunah’s land to build an altar, Araunah generously offered it as a gift. But David refused, saying, “I will not. . . sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” David wanted to offer a sacrifice to God. The word sacrifice implies giving something that costs the giver in terms of self, time, or money. To give sacrificially requires more than a token effort or gift. God wants us to give voluntarily, but he wants it to mean something. Giving to God what costs you nothing does not demonstrate commitment.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 50:1-15
KEY BIBLE VERSE: No, I don’t need your sacrifices of flesh and blood. What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you, and you can give me glory. (Psalm 50:13-15 , tlb)
God is pleased with a sacrifice that comes from true love and obedience. God’s perfect moral nature demands that the penalty for sin be death. Under the old covenant, a person could offer an animal to God as a substitute for himself, symbolizing the person’s faith in the merciful, forgiving God. But, the people were offering sacrifices as part of their worship ritual and forgetting their significance! The very act of sacrifice showed that they had once agreed to follow God wholeheartedly. But at this time their hearts were not in it, so their sacrifices were not pleasing to God, and thus were worthless. We may fall into the same pattern when we participate in religious activities, tithe, or attend church out of habit or conformity rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience. God wants righteousness, not empty ritual.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 8:18-22
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Just then one of the Jewish religious teachers said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you no matter where you go!” But Jesus said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah, have no home of my own—no place to lay my head.” (Matthew 8:19-20 , tlb)
God is pleased with the sacrifice of following his Son. Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable. Often it means great cost and sacrifice, with no earthly rewards or security. Jesus didn’t have a place to call home. You may find that following Christ costs you popularity, friendships, leisure time, or treasured habits. But while the cost of following Christ is high, the value of being Christ’s disciple is even higher. Discipleship is an investment that lasts for eternity and yields incredible rewards.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 19:16-30
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21 , tlb)
God is pleased with a sacrificial attitude that puts everything we have at his disposal. Should all believers sell everything they own? No. We are responsible to care for our own needs and the needs of our families so that we will not be a burden on others. We should, however, be willing to give up anything if God asks us to do so. This kind of attitude allows nothing to come between us and God and keeps us from using our God-given wealth selfishly. If you are comforted by the fact that Christ did not tell all his followers to sell all their possessions, then you may be too attached to what you have.
BIBLE READING: Romans 9:1-5
KEY BIBLE VERSE: O Israel, my people! O my Jewish brothers! How I long for you to come to Christ. My heart is heavy within me, and I grieve bitterly day and night because of you. Christ knows and the Holy Spirit knows that it is no mere pretense when I say that I would be willing to be forever damned if that would save you. (Romans 9:1-3 , tlb)
God is pleased with a sacrificial attitude that shows real love for others. Paul expressed concern for his Jewish “brothers” by saying that he would willingly take their punishment if that would save them. While the only one who can save us is Christ, Paul showed a rare depth of love. Like Jesus, he was willing to sacrifice for others. How concerned are you for those who don’t know Christ? Are you willing to sacrifice your time, money, energy, comfort, and safety to see them come to faith in Jesus?
BIBLE READING: Romans 12:1-8
KEY BIBLE VERSE: And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? (Romans 12:1 , tlb)
God is pleased with sacrificial living, because it shows obedience and gratitude for his grace. When sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest would kill the animal, cut it in pieces, and place it on the altar. Sacrifice was important, but even in the Old Testament God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important (see 1 Samuel 15:22 ; Psalm 40:6 ; Amos 5:21-24 ). God wants us to offer ourself, not animals, as a living sacrifice—daily laying aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources at his disposal and trusting him to guide us. We do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven.
God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey him. Because he wants only what is best for us, and because he gave his Son to make our new life possible, we should joyfully give ourself as a living sacrifice for his service.
BIBLE READING: Hebrews 13:8-17
KEY BIBLE VERSE: With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name. Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to him. (Hebrews 13:15-16 , tlb)
God is pleased with our genuine praise and receives it as a sacrifice. These Jewish Christians, because of their witness that Jesus was the Messiah, no longer worshiped with other Jews. So praise and acts of service became their sacrifices—ones they could offer anywhere, anytime. This must have reminded them of the prophet Hosea’s words, “Take away our sins; be gracious to us and receive us, and we will offer you the sacrifice of praise” (Hosea 14:2 ). A “sacrifice of praise” today would include thanking Christ for his sacrifice on the cross and telling others about it. Acts of kindness and sharing are particularly pleasing to God, even when they go unnoticed by others.
