Living Sacrifices
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." ~~ Romans 12:1
So we must be living sacrifices every day - we need to live the life of love - we have recieved the unconditional love and grace of God and we should give the living sacrifice that God can truly accept with joy - then God can be truly happy with our sacrifice.
Offerings from the heart are better than rituals. We must see this and check ourselves daily that we are giving ourselves with all of our hearts, and not just going through rituals to offer things to God. God looks much deeper within than the physical ways we act and behave - He's looking into our hearts. The words of Christ show this in Sermon on the Mount:
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." ~~ Matthew 5:21-24
Christ is saying that just physical righteousness is not enough - even inside if you are thinking sin, then you are confined within yourself. The small sins in us can spread and grow. We must engrave the law of love into our hearts - apply it to our hearts, not just physical actions. The Gospel of Christ raises the level of the physical laws - the Gospel opens up a beautiful new world.
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." ~~ Hosea 6:6
"Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations-
I cannot bear your evil assemblies." ~~ Isaiah 1:13
God really wants to see our true lives of love not a ritual. We must see that we must be living sacrifices every day, in everything we do, not just physically but deep within ourselves. If inwardly we can love God with all our hearts and with all our souls and all our minds, and then love our brothers as ourselves, then we can offer more than just rituals - our lives become the living sacrifices that will bring joy to our Lord.
Anon.
