Tuesday 26 March 2013

A living Sacrifice

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 1:8)

At that time, the people were giving sacrifices, but they gave the worst of their flocks. The ones that were less valuable, that they would not be able to sell nor eat as food. They were aware that God demanded from them the best they had, but because they could not see him they did not pay attention to what they were offering. They thought that it was a waste to do so. Some gave by obligation and they forgot that at that time sacrifices to God was for repentance,praise  and communion with God.

God compared this situation with how they shall offer something to the Governor. At that time, a governor was ruling the country. To please him, they would offer him gifts. So, they would not dare to give them a defective gift or the worst they found. This would insult him and the honour that should be given to him.

Let us contrast that situation with what is happening nowadays.

Today the sacrifice that God asks from us is our LIFE.

  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

But, how many people today are behaving like the ones of the book of Malachi?
How many people are giving only 50% of their life on the altar and are retaining the other 50%?
How many people are sacrifying only what they think is right and denyingwhat God is asking from them?
How many are still conformed to this world and is hesitating to be 100% converted

The problem of these many people is that they do not BELIEVE. They doubt the POWER of the lord and what is wriiten to bless their life. They are unwilling to take the risk of giving their life fully on the altar fearing not to see the result. They do not trust in God's presence but are accounted to his invisiblity. What lacks in these people is FAITH. Hebrew 11:1-4:
  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did.
 By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

They sacrifice only part of their life and what is easy. Maybe they are faithfull in giving the best in the tithes and offerings, but forget to clean their heart or vise versa. Or maybe they give the tithes, have a clean heart but refuse to abandon the friends, the girlfriend/boyfriend of the world. Or maybe abandon the friends, have a clean heart, give the tithes, but is unable to stop smoking.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." (Matthew 23:23)

These people are Hypocrites, they want the 100% of God in all aspect of their life but refuse to sacrifice their life fully on the altar. They love it and fear of losing it.
Let me tell you, good people, that God hates this type of sacrifice. Because he is the Lord Almighty, everything on this earth belong to him. When Jesus gave his life on the cross, he did not only gave one leg or an arm. His whole body was crucified. He gave everything to save us, eventhough that was hard and reluctant to his own will and flesh.

But how hardhearted from our part to give only 99% of our own for him? Without forgetting giving 100% of our life is never in vain, we only benefit from it.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:25)
 So, good people, do not fear to lose your life. Instead give everything of yourself to the Lord. You shall be filled with his presence and receive the greatest reward which is Your Salvation.

God bless you, Thash

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