Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.  Hebrews 13:15-16 NLT

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.  Hebrews 13:15-16 NLT

When I read this verse again this week, it touched me, our sacrifices, though small, do please God. Jesus was our ultimate blood sacrifice. He paid the price for each of us with His death on the cross. He saves us through His grace and sacrifice! Blood sacrifices, as described in Leviticus in the Old Testament, are no longer needed to reconcile us with God. Jesus paid it all for you and me, for all who choose to believe for all time!

A little background, some sources say that the first sacrifice was in Genesis 3:21 after Adam and Eve had sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. After “the fall”, God covered their sin, and their bodies, by shedding the blood of an animal and making their clothing from its skin. And in doing so God performed and demonstrated the first sacrifice for the atonement of sin.

However, this may be a lot to infer from one verse in Genesis. The next mention of an offering or sacrifice is in Genesis 4 with Cain and Abel. Which suggests that the act of a sacrifice or offerings to God was already established. Cain brought an offering of “some of his crops as a gift” to the LORD and Abel brought an offering of “the best portions of the firstborn lambs of his flock”. We don’t get a lot of detail but the LORD “accepted Abel and his gift” perhaps because it was given with faith and obedience to the LORD, but He “did not accept Cain and his gift” perhaps because it was not his best? So, it would seem that a blood, an atonement sacrifice, was acceptable and pleasing to God.

But how wonderfully blessed we are! Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s love and grace and mercy. He gave His blood and body as an atonement sacrifice that we might have abundant life through Him and closeness to God the Father.

Sacrifice is defined as “an offering or a giving up of something of value for the benefit of another” or “an act of offering to a deity something precious”. In Hebrews, Paul suggests that through Jesus, we offer up to God the sacrifice of praise. We are to openly profess His name. We also are encouraged to remember to “do good” and to “share with others” because these too are pleasing sacrifices to God.

This week let’s offer our pleasing sacrifices to our God; we can:

Praise His name and give Him all thanks and glory for what He has done for us.

Offer some of our valuable time to help those in our neighborhood and  community.

Be generous with our God-given abundance and share with those in need.

Share our faith in God and the good news of Jesus with others.

“These are the sacrifices that please God”!

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as strive to give God the sacrifices that are pleasing to Him!

Blessings and joy as we please God with our sacrifices of praise, thanks, generosity, faith, and love!