“Spiritual Sacrifices”

Sunday, October 20, 2024

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

        “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

        a cornerstone chosen and precious,

        and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

(1 Peter 2.4-6)

In last week’s article, we looked at a brief rundown of the five major offerings catalogued in the opening chapters of Leviticus. The central point was that, although it’s tempting to put all sacrifices in the same basket, there were actually several categories with meaningful differences—not only in the materials that constituted the offering, but in the method and purpose of each offering.

This suggested a New Testament application, that we should use our varied gifts and talents, and recognize that such use mirrors the varied sacrifices of God’s covenant with Israel. But we had no need to pore over the Old Testament to discover this insight—we’re told about this plainly, in our own covenant with Christ!

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

(Hebrews 13.15-16)

Three distinct offerings are mentioned here: our vocal praises to God, our good deeds for others, and—what is similar but not identical—our sharing of material blessings with others.

The Fruit of Lips

The first set may also be subdivided. Even in the Old Testament prayers were associated with sacrifice.

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

(Psalm 141.2)

But in addition to the nation’s collective incense and daily burnt offerings, praise is compared to an individual’s freewill offering, even in the Israelite context!

Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and teach me your rules.

(Psalm 119.108)

These can take the form of direct prayers—spoken aloud or silently in the heart—or the singing of “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ep 5.19, Co 3.16). It even includes publicly confessing Jesus—he used similar language, when he promised to claim before his Father “everyone who acknowledges [him] before men” (Mt 10.32).

Do Good

The next category seems obvious, and yet it receives surprisingly little attention. The American culture so emphasizes economic prowess that we often fail to recognize opportunities to do good by other methods than giving money. We’re coming to that shortly, but first, consider the countless other ways to do a good deed! It always costs something, but it need not be monetary, for it to matter! In fact, very often the “acts of mercy” (Ro 12.8) that are most appreciated are paid in time and discomfort, rather than dollars and cents. Helping a neighbor with yard work, cleaning an elderly brother’s house for him, sharing your expertise, or even just taking deliberate notice of someone who is often ignored or neglected, are not only praiseworthy good deeds and expressions of love for a neighbor; they are also “sacrifices…pleasing to God” (He 13.16)!

Share What You Have

This one isn’t such a challenge for many modern, Western Christians. We live in a prosperous time and place, but both in our own communities and across the world, there are untold numbers of people—including Christians—living in poverty and great need. Like the “rich people” Jesus observed contributing “large sums” to the temple treasury (Mk 12.41), many Christians have ample opportunity to share with others “out of their abundance” (v44)—and that’s wonderful!  This could be direct financial help to a brother, a neighbor, or a stranger. It could be your contribution to the church, too. In the same context where Paul discussed his plans to bring “aid to the saints” in Jerusalem (Ro 15.25), he wrote of his “priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable,” (v16), including these monetary gifts. This offering also includes the narrower sort of help churches and individuals provide to those who preach the gospel for a living. This Paul elsewhere called “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (Php 4.18). These should not be the Christian’s only sacrifices, but neither should they be ignored.

The Final Sacrifice

This list is hardly exhaustive, but it has given us the opportunity to examine a handful of the spiritual sacrifices God calls his people to make today. One more should be included here—one that, like the incense offering mentioned above, has an Old Testament comparison, but was not covered in our examination of the five major offerings in Leviticus 1-7. A drink offering was required alongside many of the Israelites’ sacrifices, generally consisting of wine and poured atop the other sacrifice already burning on the altar. Considering the strong, visual resemblance between wine and blood, perhaps you can see why Paul described his potential martyrdom thus:

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

(Philippians 2.17)

Jeremy Nettles

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