Sacrifice (pt.2): Right Reasons. Right Heart.

SACRIFICE (pt.2): Right Reasons. Right Heart.

As with anything that we do for God, others and even ourselves, we must be cautious to be sincere and true in our intentions. In other words, we must do so honestly and with a good heart. G. Batiste said, “Sacrifice means nothing if you are doing it for the wrong reasons.” In relation to this, it is perhaps best if first we establish the “why” and determine further if the course of action is pleasing to God.

In Genesis 4, Cain and Abel gave a sacrifice to God from the best that they had to offer. But reading this passage, we find that God rejected Cain's sacrifice (v.3-5). It was not said exactly why God rejected Cain's sacrifice, but no doubt, it had something to do with his heart. Perhaps his intentions on some level or another were not righteous. In later verses, we see God warning Cain to guard his heart from evil, lest it consume him (v.7). His intentions at that moment were about himself, and he slew his brother. Perhaps his heart had already been tainted with a self-serving drive even before giving his sacrifice. We do not know for sure, but God knew. And He still knows now the longings and intentions our our hearts today. It is great to follow God's commands, but it is empty unless we have our hearts in the right place. Our service is useless without substance.

Later in the Old Testament, the wise King Solomon stated, “The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?” (Proverbs 21:27)
An abomination is something that God detests or makes him want to turn his face from. If God were to turn from us, we would have no hope of peace and no substance. We need God. Therefore, all that we do should be for him. All sacrifices should be modeled after the sacrifice given for us- with not only good intentions but aided with a righteous heart. Good intentions are not enough, but acting also, with good Christian thoughts will bring good intentions to a righteous destination. God wants our sacrifice. And when done with the right reasons and the right heart, God will accept it and favor us.

We pray blessings upon all who have read. We invite you to follow us on social media as well! Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

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Sacrifice (pt.1): The Example

As we have recently been discussing value some things in life are so because we have worked hard for them or hard to become them. But when we have things that we cherish or we give that value too it is very difficult for us to let them go. When we give those things up, whether willingly or under difficult circumstances, this is considered to many to be a Sacrifice.

Jesus's sacrifice was given to atone for our sins and, as such, it is not only a sign of reverence, but our duty to show thanks to God for that sacrifice. When something is given to us, our thanks shows respect to the person that gave it to us, and when this giving is done sacrificially then, accordingly, the thanks should be that much more. In regards to the sacrifice given to us from God, a reciprocity is necessary for us to complete that process of being given a blessing and saying thank you. We should give our lives to God as the life of the God-Son was given for us. We are not being told to give up life and our bodies necessarily, but we are called to do what is necessary to honor and praise God and bring others into a relationship with him as well.

There are many things that are around us that may hinder us from doing this. But the bottom line is that we should only focus on the things that will bring others to Christ and we should sacrifice the satisfactions and the entertainment of our own bodies and our own minds to bring others into a close relationship God. We may have to sacrifice our time for God, but this is something that He has already done. He takes his time to properly build up the blessings that we need. We may need to sacrifice the things that we say, but this is something that God has already done for us, because in the beginning God spoke all things into existence. And in the Bible, which is his a compilation of his powerful Words, He has promised on so many occasions, that He would look out for us. We may have to sacrifice the things that we think for God. But this is something also that he has done for us because he was thinking of us when he gave up his precious Son. He is giving us a blueprint of things that we also should think on, so as to praise him and grow our relationship with him in thought, to be privy to the blessings that He has promised that are waiting for us. God sacrificed Jesus and Jesus sacrificed his relationship with his family and friends here on Earth, so that we could strengthen ours with the Father up in Heaven.

We pray blessings upon all who have read. We invite you to follow us on social media as well! Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

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