Acceptable and Pleasing Sacrifices

1 Peter 2:4-5 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

"A holy priesthood"; that is what we, as a body of believers, are referred to. We are holy, set apart for the purpose of offering up spiritual sacrifices to God. But wait...what sacrifices? Let us go to Hebrews 13:15-16 and take a closer look at what are some of the spiritual sacrifices we are called to offer up to God. Note, that verse 15 tells us to bring our sacrifice of praise to God, through Jesus. In that same verse it describes that sacrifice as "the fruit of our lips that give thanks to His Name". However, let me ask this, "When is giving thanks a sacrifice?" It is easy to thank God and be grateful when things are going well. It is a completely different story to give thanks to God when everything seems to be going wrong; in the midst of suffering. That, my brothers and sisters, is when giving thanks becomes a true sacrifice. Verse 16 goes on to tell us to "not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased". Let us consider the heart and intention with which we do those good works. If we are doing them with the intention of earning our salvation, or with the thought that our good works will gain us more favor than the next person, then our motives are misguided. Our good works and sharing should be driven by our faith. In other words, it is one thing to give to someone out of the abundance of what God has blessed us with, and then wave a big flag so that everyone will see what a good Christian we are; as opposed to giving someone our last dollar, quietly and privately, and trusting that our provision will come from God. As a holy priesthood, God wants us to offer up thanks, praise, and our good works, by faith, and in Christ Jesus; for our sacrifices are only acceptable and pleasing when they are offered up in the manner that God commands.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).