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.

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Praise and Deliverance

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

This verse is a wonderful blueprint toward how a  Christian’s attitude should be, in regards to acknowledging God’s goodness. Written by the man after God’s own heart, this entire chapter of Psalms [34] reflects on the solid belief and example of God being there for us. The psalter makes sure to always include God’s workings in his life, no matter the situation he finds himself in or coming out of. Perhaps the approach that David takes toward revealing God’s divine intervention causes him to remain or at times, return to being of the description given- being righteous. Blessing the Lord at all times, and continuously praising God no doubt increased the relationship of David and God.

Verse 19 mentions the righteous in that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous:but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” David surely had his fair share of afflictions, but one in particular is believed to have been the source of his penning these profound words declaring his praise.

Before the poetry of this chapter, is a partial explanation making reference to an incident involving David and his confrontation with Abimelech. In the incident, David, in fear for his life, plays the role of a man gone mad, on the ground in the dirt, drooling in his beard. This image is shameful, to say the least, but it worked. His life was spared and he was sent away. God had saved him, once again. His life was spared and he explains further, “ I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears (v.4). He realizes his shortcomings, referring to himself in verse 6 as “This poor man” crying, when once again “the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” The commonality here is that when in distress, the Lord will hear his righteous, and deliver them out…of them all.”

Thousands of years after these events,we too can find ourselves on the receiving end of God’s deliverance. We have but to ask, and in the words of Jesus himself, “it shall be given; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) In almost a mirroring of the image that David set forth in Psalm 34, Paul’s Epistle of Ephesians [5:20] reminds us to always give thanks to God for all things. We must remember who he is and what he is capable of. He hears us and delivers us from all that might oppose us. This deliverance is available by believing and consistently praising God’s name -always. David stated it perfectly in an earlier chapter. Psalm 9:10 says, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Beautiful poetry!

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