Sacrifices

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17:11).

In Numbers 15, God told Moses about the sacrifices he wanted His people to make to atone for their sins. Not only did they give up some of their resources and repent, but such acts also kept their focus on God and doing His will. However, even with specific laws and sacrifices to do for breaking them, man continued to go astray, and it became too much.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

The coming of Jesus changed all this. He became the ultimate sacrifice that would save all mankind if they would only accept Him as their Savior. The blood shed by He-Who-Knew-No-Sin would atone for any and all sins. In addition, after His resurrection, He would send the Holy Spirit to help us keep our focus on God.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1-2).

But God still expects sacrifices from us. He expects us to sacrifice our selfishness for the good of others and His kingdom. When we lay all that we have and all that we are on His altar in complete surrender, then we can become all that He intends us to be. What a wonderful life!

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).

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