Tuesday, December 17, 2013

"Sacrifces That Please"

  As we read about the animal sacrifices in the OT it is interesting to find that many times the Hebrew people were offering the sacrifices as God wanted but were still rejected. Places like Isaiah 1 where the people were offering their worship in sacrifices but God plainly stated He takes no pleasure in them (Isa. 1:10-15). In fact, not only was their worship in these sacrifices worthless, their prayers were an abomination! What? An abomination? That's how God saw them. How could God feel that way about those who are worshiping His name?
  There seemed to be something greatly missing. Could it be we too are missing the same thing today? What is missing? God never accepted a sacrifice without a true and honest heart! The people thought it was about showing up with some sacrifice. God wanted a heart, a life of honesty and truth!
  In Psa. 50, the psalmist speaks God's heart in verses 7-14. It comes in this form: "Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you; I am God, your God." What a statement we need to remember. God was not against their sacrifices as He had seen plenty of those from the people. The sacrifices were not lacking! Just as today,  while we don't offer animal sacrifices but there are those who are together at every opportunity and the Lord has seen it plenty from some of us. What's the issue? Their (our) heart!!! God wanted a sacrifice that had meaning from the worshipers heart. God wanted from the people loving gratitude, faithfulness and people that kept their word!! Offer sacrifices that are truly thankful. Offer to God what you vow, keeping your word!
  We turn to Psa. 51 and find David speaking that God wants a person that has truth within their innermost (51:6). God wants sacrifices from hearts that are pure and clean, not tainted with sinful attitudes or deceitful (51:10). Then David concludes that what sacrifice God really wants is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart (51:17). It's all about the heart of the worshiper! If the sacrifices offered did not come representing the worshipers heart, it was an abomination in God's sight! Even God made it clear to King Saul that it was obedience of the heart the Lord wanted and without that there would be no acceptance of a sacrifice (I Sam. 15).
  For us today, to sing without heart meaning what words we sing to His name (the words should reflect our hearts), to pray without a heart of thankfulness, even in the difficulties, to feast at the Lord's table without a heart reflecting on the offering of Jesus of forgiving me as I forgive my brother/sister as I have been forgiven, it is bringing condemnation upon us (I Cor. 11:28-29). How many times do we worship God and just mouth some words but our hearts are not engaged? How many times do we come together to worship just because it's the thing to do and not consider our hearts? How many times do we give our sacrifice offering by just tossing some money in a basket without any heart? And God asks, "Should I honor this?" Should He be pleased with us? Sacrifice, worship without heart is an abomination in the eyes of God. And speaking of Jesus offering of Himself to God as our atoning sacrifice: "After saying above, 'Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, not have You taken pleasure in them' (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, 'Behold, I have come to do Your will.' "(Heb. 10:8-9) Jesus had a heart to do the will of God. And God saw His heart and was well pleased. What are we doing with our sacrifices we offer to God? Are they from the heart or from habit?

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