Sacrifice

In ancient times, people drew near to God with sacrifices.  They brought the best of their flocks to present at the altar.  Only their best would do as their sacrifices were precursers of the sacrifice that God would make for mankind: His Own Son.  Jesus himself laid his life on he altar for us, nothing but his best could satisfy the purchase price for our sins.

In like manner, we are called to sacrifice our best - nothing less will do.  No seconds, no half-hearted offerings, no substituting something less than our very best.  We too our to bring that offering to the altar and present it to God as His own, never to be retrieved - sacrifices are not on loan or time limited, sacrifices are giving fully.

Unlike the sacrifices of ancient Israel, which were pointing toward the sacrifice of God, ours is built upon the foundation of that sacrifice and it is likewise to be an offering of self rather than possessions.  We, like Jesus, are the sacrifice that is to be offered on the altar.  There we die to self and like Jesus rise up from that death to live - to live for God, wholly his no longer our own.

Listen to the words of the aposttle Paul: "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" (Rom 12:1).

This offering can't be part-time, second best or leftovers.  This offering is our whole self, which means everything we have and are is His and we give it to Him as a living, breathing sacrifice each day and in every way.  This means instead of asking "What do I want?" we ought to be asking, "What does God want of me or me to have or do?"

Sometimes He would have you do for yourself or your family and sometime He would have you do for others.  Sometimes God would have you put in more effort, other times He would have you take more time to rest.  God wants you to be both blessed and be a channel of blessing.  Most importantly, God wants you wholly and completely as a living sacrifice.  What about you?  Are you willing to offer yourself on that altar to become His alone?  Jus' Askn.