“Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might sanctify the people by his own blood.” Hebrews 13:12 CSB

Adam and Eve, the first people created, lived in the Garden of Eden with God. They would walk with God and talk with Him until…they did something God had told them not to do. They sinned, they listened to the serpent and ate the forbidden fruit. And from that day, people were mortal, which meant they all would die at some point. Sin leads to death.

In the Old Testament, God laid out a plan so that people who sinned (and you know we all sin) could come into God’s presence. His plan was a sacrifice. Our word sacrifice comes from a Latin word that means to “make sacred,” connected to God. The purpose of the sacrifice was to make the sinful person sacred so that they could be in God’s presence. An animal was sacrificed instead of the sinful person and the animal’s blood made the person sacred.

We don’t have sacrifices anymore when we sin. Do you know why? If you said Jesus, you are right! Our verse today talks about Jesus being put on the cross to die for our sins once and for all. Jesus was our sin offering and died in the same place as the Old Testament sin sacrifices, “outside the gate.” When we believe in Jesus, that He died and rose from the dead for us, we are saved and forgiven of our sins. We just have to accept Him into our hearts and ask for forgiveness.

So, what sacrifices does God want from us since Jesus already paid the price for our sins? There are many verses in the Bible that tell us what we can give to God, our “sacrifices” that please Him. I am going to give you a list of some that you and your parents can look up this week if you want. And if you find more, you can add them to our list.

God is pleased with –

Your praises – honoring and respecting God with your words or songs.  Hebrews13:15

Your thanks – thanking God for all He has done for you and your family.  Jonah 2:9

Your actions – doing good and sharing with those that have less.  Hebrews 13:16

Your obedience – doing the things that we know God wants us to do.  1 Samuel 15:22

Your humbled heart – knowing you sin and come to God for favor or forgiveness.  Psalms 51:17

Your belief and faith – knowing what Jesus did for you and trusting God in everything.  Ephesians 5:2

Blessings and joy as you please God with your “sacrifices!”