Acceptable Sacrifice

Acceptable Sacrifice

      “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” psalm 107: 21, 22. “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.” Psalm 69: 30-31.

      An ox or a bullock offered upon the altar as a sacrifice to God is something that can be seen and touched, and something that seems to be real in the earthly sphere of things, and it is probably quite costly to the owner or the person offering it; however God has said that he values more highly than the ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs, the praise and gratitude of the heart.

      God said that love is the more perfect way. Good works, good deeds, good morals, sacrifices, all these things that man can offer up to God are abominations, and a stench in God's nostrils unless they are genuinely motivated by love and praise, and thanksgiving.

      Just to be talking about God, and to be doing things that pertain to God, and o be all wrapped up in some serviced for him in the name of God is not enough by itself. Martha was busy about many things. She was so wrapped up in doing things, that she had little time for the Lord himself. Jesus did not say that Martha was completely wrong in doing, but he did say that Mary had chosen the better part. What was the better part? The better part was to sit at his feet and worship him, and listen to his teaching, and love him and show her gratitrude, praise, and thanksgiving, by washing his feet with her hair.

      The acceptable sacrifice to God is love and gratitude to God. Jesus said: “thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy mind and all thy soul.” Our love of God will cause us to put everything else aside and make the Lord truly the Lord of our lives, and seek him first in all things, and trust him for all our needs.

      God will not fail us if we truly trust and believe his word. If we will be preoccupied with God – God has promised that all our needs will be met and that our barns will burst with new wine. Let us pray that God will help us individually and together to offer the right kind of sacrifices to him, which is -the best of our time, the best of our life, the first fruits of all our increase, the first part of every new day, and live in such a way that we will be a testimony to all people that we depend wholly on God and not out own efforts nor our own wisdom.