Renewed revelation of sacrifice

Alexia, Heather and I are now in Leviticus. The first 7 chapters are all about the sacrifices God desired His people to bring him…the sin offering, guilt offering, peace offering, burnt offering and grain offering.

So why were they to bring these sacrifices? Because of their sin and need to be reconciled with Him. So why did God allow them (and us) to sin? Obviously the fall was not outside of God’s plan. He knew we would sin. But why would he allow it? Romans says, “God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” (Rom 11:32) So, God would allow this to happen just so He could have mercy on us? Wow.

Most of the offerings they brought were out of their obligation to God….sacrifices to restore a right relationship with Him. Only the peace offering seems to have been brought out of thanksgiving and freewill. It’s the only one they were not “obligated” to bring.

These offerings were not only necessary, but God was pleased with them AND He deserves them! Think of the sacrifice it was to the Israelites to constantly bring forth bulls, sheep, goats and grain day after day to reconcile their relationship with God for sins committed knowingly and those unbeknownst to them. Then on top of that He deserves more! He desires more. We are to bring forth sacrifices out of our freewill and thanksgiving of our heart.

So, what are those sacrifices today? Even in the OT David realized that God was not delighted necessarily in the offerings themselves, but the hearts of the people who brought them. “You do not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Ps. 51:16-17)

Because of the new covenant and Christ’s death on the cross we are not obligated to bring physical sacrifices to the altar. I know He desires sacrifice. But, what are we to sacrifice?

The book of Romans tells us, “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.” (Rom 12:1) Wow again.

We are to not to simply sacrifice objects to Him, but our whole life. We are to do this with His mercy in mind. His abundant mercy. Our hearts and lives are what He desires from us and mercy is what he desires to give us.

What exactly does this look like in everyday life?

Lord, help me give all to you.