Well Pleasing Sacrifice

"Indeed, we have not an enduring city but the coming one we seek, on account of Him then we offer sacrifices of praise, thoroughly, everything to God, that is, fruit of the lips confessing His name, and the good and sharing be not forgetful, for such sacrifices are well pleasing to God."1

Thanksgiving is an offer of sacrifice to God, "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And make your vows to the Most High;"2 The Law offered sacrifices each year, these would never make one perfect, if it did there would be no need for another. Christ came to offer his body a living sacrifice for sin, once and for all, on account of Him then we offer sacrifices.

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for me. In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight. Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”3 

For those who follow Christ, our example, our reasonable service is to offer our bodies a living sacrifice, to be transformed to the image of the one who gave all for us.4 If this is our reasonable service and discipleship is a facilitation into this purpose then the great commission is reasonable service of the Church. This is the greatest sacrifice the Church can give, a living sacrifice of the body, unstained from the world.

"Religion pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."5

I am reminded of the orphan I met in Ukraine, she was a Ferrel child who had been abandoned and raised by animals. A woman rescued her and took her to a  church only to return years later appalled at her condition. She was no better off in this church than she was with animals. They had sacrificed her growth to serve them, cleaning their toilets. Such is not pure religion. She is at a place worthy of the name, the Father's House.

My Grandmother was widowed when my father was a little boy. She played the organ in a small church, she was well loved by them. She wasn't involved in the lives of her Grandchildren, at least my father's children. My father grew up fatherless, and by example he too sacrificed, going off to seminary school. Not knowing how to be a father I guess it was easy to accept such sacrificial teaching. But for whatever the reason, he sacrificed his children. I believe such an example was set by the church, the sanctification of his soul, his well being was sacrificed in the name of some greater good.

"Moreover, if anyone his own and especially his household does not provide, the faith he has denied and is worse than an unbeliever."6

Jesus said those faithful in little will be faithful in much. Little begins in the family, and extends to my neighbor, my community and church, and so on. Besides caring for orphans and widows, caring for your own household is being faithful in little. Such love is a litmus test of true religion, and God loves his little children, you can't sacrifice their development and say it was for Jesus. If you don't sacrifice the growth of your children for Jesus and the Church is the children and household of God then the growth of the Church can't be sacrificed for some greater cause. This as Paul writes is a denying of the faith, which is not a sacrifice of confessing His name, its worse than an unbeliever.

My Grandmother was a godly woman, I believe the sacrifice of her prayers is one reason I know Christ today. However, I see a pattern forming, and a church that would sacrifice the needs of a widow and a fatherless boy. No one took my father under their wing, in him the great commission was neglected, so I ask what or whom is such a sacrifice for? I am the product of a church that would teach a sacrifice that would neglect widows and orphans in the name of some greater cause. And the pattern would continue in me, requiring me to sacrifice justice, faith, trust for greater cause. Such is not pure religion.

"Hasten, yourselves approved to present to God, a workman not ashamed accurately handling the word of truth."7 

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. This word for workmanship means "a thing made," it gets it root word from the word practice. A workman is one who practices things of God, good things. Paul writes there is this principle that exists, "that willing to do good, evil is present with me."8 He willed to do good, but did not practice it, "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I practice."9 As a believer we will from our inner being, to do good, but how do we practice the good? it is in the workmanship, a workman approved. But how am I approved that I may practice that which I will to do? I need an approved mind that finds his will acceptable, perfect, and pleasing. 

"... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to approve the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God."9 My greatest sacrifice, an approved worker for God.

Jesus came to present His body a living sacrifice to reconcile man to a heavenly Father, from his death we are raised into newness of life. We are united with him in his death, so that we are united with him in his life. We participate in his death and receive life, we are given the power to become children of God, heirs. From the sacrifice, comes life, life that is everlasting.

Let There Be Light