The concept of sacrifice is common to all religions of the world. Some make offerings of food before lifeless images and altars. Others strive to live by higher personal standards that might bid them well in the next life. Still others lend themselves to an endless list of good-deed-doing in vain attempt to shift the balance between the good and the bad they have done.  Even apologies serve as a form of sacrifice. It appears to be a universal truth that man needs to make amends for wrongs. Despite the claim of the 1970 movie “Love Story,” apparently, love means you ALWAYS need to say you’re sorry.

In Old Testament times, sacrifices were commonly made through the offering of animals. Only the high priests were allowed to enter the inner room of the tabernacle to bring the blood sacrifice for himself and the sins of the people, even those committed in ignorance. (Hebrews 9:7)  The Holy Spirit had not yet been revealed, leaving the people to try to clear their consciences before God by bringing gifts and sacrifices of food and drink and ceremonial behaviors.   (v 9-10)

We all can understand the need to clear our consciences before God, but no sacrifice was sufficient. A perfect sacrifice, which we could never offer, was required. Christ, the perfect sacrifice, had to become the mediator of the new covenant for us. (v 15) And unlike the sacrifices of old which had to be made over and over, Jesus made one perfect sacrifice for us.  “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (v 27-28)

Today we make sacrifices of money, time, self-denial, and service. But they are not what God most desires. Speaking of His Father God, Jesus said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” (Hebrews 10:8-9) 

And how do we best accomplish His will? What kind of sacrifice would demonstrate our desire to do His will? “I will sacrifice a thank offering and call upon the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 116:17, )  “Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15) THIS is the sacrifice that God most desires and that satisfies both Him and us: a LIVING sacrifice of thankful and praising hearts. Certainly, the motives of a thankful and praising heart yields its will to good works, self-denial, and the service of others. But these are the outcomes of true sacrifice, not the sacrifice itself.

How many times can you discover today to offer God your thanks and your praise? Be a living sacrifice of thanks and praise!