By John Greco
Animal sacrifices are gross. Just read through the book of Leviticus, and you’ll be glad you don’t live in the days of temple sacrifice. There’s blood being sprinkled, poured, wiped on the altar, and collected in jars. Animals are cut up so that some parts can be burned, others can be eaten, and still others can be taken outside the camp and burned differently. All in all, it’s a mess.
But there’s also something quite beautiful about it.
Through the sacrificial system, God made a way for His people to come close and worship Him. The tabernacle, and later the temple, housed the very presence of God. That reality defies our limited ability to comprehend, but it’s true nonetheless. God had come close. His space was sacred, and to keep our sinfulness and uncleanness from defiling God’s throne room on earth, the sacrificial system was given. The blood of animals purified the place of worship so that men and women could come near.
At their core, the various sacrifices described in the Old Testament were about worship. The people gave their livestock—the best of the best of what they could afford. It was costly, always an act of ascribing to God the honor due His name. There was no low-priced, discount option that would do the trick. A sacrifice was just that—a sacrifice to make.
Fast-forward to the New Testament era in which you and I live. Jesus has paid the once-and-forever price to atone for our sin so that those He has redeemed can draw near to God, no animal sacrifices required. The Holy Spirit now lives inside those of us who are believers. We are now the temple of God, so everywhere we tread is sacred space, especially when we gather together as the Church. But that doesn’t mean our days of making sacrifices are over.
What was planted in seed form in the Old Testament grows into full bloom in the New. So, we should expect that what was required of the sacrificial system under the Mosaic Covenant only expands under the New Covenant—and it does. God no longer requires the blood of bulls and goats. Now He wants us—you and me—given over to Him as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1–2). Everything we have, everything we are, and everything we do is to be given over to God. We are His, and our lives should show it.
About a thousand years before Christ, David got it. He wrote, “The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God” (Psalm 51:17). It is this “broken spirit’ and “humbled heart” that allows a person to become a living sacrifice. Pride has no place in the life of a Christian. We have been bought and paid for. We belong to God, and our lives ought to reflect this fact. Our sacrifices may not be as bloody as they were under the Old Covenant, but they ought to be even more costly.
Written by John Greco
4,986 thoughts on "Worship Through Sacrifice"
-
baccaratsite says:
https://baccaratsite707.com/예스카지노/
예스카지노 우리계열 안전사이트로 많은 유저분들이 이용하시는 대한민국 최고의 브랜드입니다. 본 사이트 이용시 최고의 혜택을 보장합니다. -
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment.
There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but typically people don’t talk
about these issues. To the next! Best wishes!! -
Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was
wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin for
my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m
having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot! -
Pretty! This was an extremely wonderful article. Thanks for supplying
these details. -
먹튀검증 토토사이트 에이블입니다.
신규는 물론 오픈된 먹튀사이트를 철저히
검증하여 먹튀없는 시대를 만들어가고 있습니다.
토토를 사랑하는 여러분의 많은 호응바랍니다.
여러분의 충실한 토토사이트가 되도록 노력하겠습니다. -
Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of
volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have
done a extraordinary job! -
I got this web site from my buddy who informed
me on thhe topic of this site and at tthe moment this time I am
vusiting this website and reading very inormative
articles at this time. -
If some one desires to be updated with newest technologies therefore he myst be pay a visit this website and be up to date everyday.
-
Hi it’s me, I am also visiting this site on a regular basis,
this site is really good and the viewers are in fact sharing good thoughts. -
It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I am glad
that you simply shared this useful info with us.
Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing. -
I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout
on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this
one nowadays. -
Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading
this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this.
I will forward this page to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read.
Thank you for sharing! -
It’s nearly impossible to find experienced people in this
particular subject, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks -
A person essentially help to make critically articles I might state.
That is the very first time I frequented your website page and up to now?
I surprised with the research you made to make this
actual post incredible. Magnificent job! -
Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website,
how can i subscribe for a weblog site? The account helped me a appropriate deal.
I have been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered
brilliant clear idea -
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your web site unintentionally,
and I’m stunned why this accident didn’t took
place earlier! I bookmarked it. -
Hi mates, how is the whole thing, and what you wish for to say
on the topic of this piece of writing, in my view its truly remarkable in support of me. -
Have youu ever thought abbout adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is important aand everything.Nevertheless think about if you added some great pictures or video clips to give your
posts more, “pop”! Yoour content is exccellent but with pics and
clips, thbis blog could definitely be one of the most beneficial in its niche.
Great blog! -
This is really interesting, You are an overly skilled blogger.
I have joined your rss feed and look forward to in quest of
extra of your magnificent post. Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social networks -
Excellent site. Plenty of useful info here.
I’m sending it to a few pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thanks in your effort!
Comments are closed.
Post Comments (4986)