The Acceptable Sacrifices of the Righteous

By:Elder Enoch Ofori Jnr

The giving of offering to God is commanded in both the Old and New Testaments. But the first important sacrifice God demands is the sacrifice of our body and will to Him. Abel offered the prototype of the true offering pleasing to God, because, first, his heart was right, and this reflected in his offering (Gen. 4:3-5). Because Abel had faith, by which we please God (in obedience), he offered “a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Heb. 11:4, 6).

In Rom. 12:1,the apostle Paul tells us to offer our bodies as “a living sacrifice” to God which is our “reasonable service”. A body and mind consecrated to God willingly offers all she/he has without grudging it (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

The Lord detests the offering of the wicked, more so when he brings it with a wicked mind (Prov. 21:27; 15:8).  The Lord takes greater delight in obedience than in sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 21:3). That is why the Lord totally rejects sacrifices offered by the disobedient (Isa. 1:11-16) and only takes delight in those who “tremble at His word” (which also enjoins offering but in obedience) – Isa. 66:2-3; Hos. 6:6-7.

Even if we are unfaithful in our marriage, our offering will not please God (Mal. 2:13-14). But we have every reason as a church to offer the KING praises and offering, but let’s do it in a way that pleases Him, and our offering shall be “pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years” (Mal. 3:3-4).

For all His benefits towards us, let’s take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord, even as we pay our vows (Ps. 116:12-14). It’s a token of our gratitude, for the earth is the LORD’s including “the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Ps. 50:7-14). When we have right standing with God and offer sacrifices in this state, He will deliver us when we call upon Him in the day of trouble, and we will glorify His holy Name (Ps 66:18, 50:15).

“For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 1:11).
Dec. 25, 2010