LIVING  SACRIFICE  TO  GOD

“ You present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God ( Romans 12: 1 ).  Sacrifice unto God is the principle of Believer’s life to serve Christ Jesus. Most of the Believers thought, they are sacrificing in the ministry as in church service which is the body of Christ, at different ways, but they do not consider that whether their sacrifice are pleasing to God?. The real sacrifice that please to God ?

    “I will not ..offer a burnt offering that has not cost me nothing ‘ ( 1 Chr 21; 24 ), David wanted to offer a sacrifice to God, sacrifice which means paying something that cost the giver in term of self, time, or money. To give sacrificially require more than a token effort or gift. God wants us to give voluntary, but He wants it to mean something. Giving to God what costs you nothing does not demonstrate commitment.

( 2 ) God is pleased with a sacrifice that comes from true love and obedience.
      In the Old Testament as part of sacrifice, a person could offer an animal to God, that the penalty for sin be death. as a substitute for himself with the person’s faith in the merciful, forgiving God. But the offering sacrifice as a part of worship and forgetting its significance. The very act of sacrifice showed that they had agreed to follow God wholeheartedly . But at that time their heart were not in it, so their sacrifice were not pleasing to God., and thus worthless. We may fall into this 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.

( 3 ) God is pleased with the sacrifice of His Son. ( Believers )
     God sent His only begotten Son , as an atoning sacrifice for the whole world. Jesus Christ sacrificial love was pleased by His Father even Christ had great cost with no earthly rewards or security. As an obedient believers, we should sacrifice our life unto God as His Son Jesus Christ , with no hopeful reward from the world. Believer’s discipleship is an investment that lasts for eternity and yields incredible rewards.

( 4 ) God is pleased with a sacrificial attitude that puts everything we have at His disposal.
    “ If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven “ ( Matt 19: 21 ). Should all the believers sell everything they own ?. NO . We are responsible to care for our own needs and the needs of our family, so that we will not be a burden on others. We should however, be willing to give anything if God asks us to do so. Our riches blessing come from God and belong to Him.

( 5 ) God is pleased with a sacrificial living, because it shows obedience and gratitude for His grace.
      In the Old Testament time, clean animal was needed for the sacrifice according to the God’s law. but nowadays, God wants us to offer ourselves, not animals as a living sacrifice ( Romans 12; 1 ), 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 with reward 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 ourselves as a living sacrifice for His service..

(  6 ) God is pleased with our genuine praise and receives it as a sacrifice.
       “ Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us so that we may offer you the sacrifice of praise “ ( Hosea 14; 2 ). A sacrifice of praise today would include thanksgiving 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. God wants us to sacrifice our life unto Him, Are we really sacrifice our lives wholeheartedly , and pleased by our Lord ?

Dr John Than