How can we ensure our offerings are "pleasing to the LORD" today? Key Verse “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” – Romans 12:1 Where the Journey Began In the Old Testament, an animal without defect was laid on the altar and “its aroma was pleasing to the LORD” (Leviticus 1:9). Today, because Christ fulfilled every sacrificial shadow (Hebrews 10:10), we present ourselves—not bulls or goats. The heart behind the gift remains the same: God still delights in offerings that reflect His holiness, honor His Son, and spring from genuine faith. Essential Ingredients of a Pleasing Offering • Whole-Life Surrender – God invites more than a token or tithe; He wants the whole person. – Romans 12:1 links “living sacrifices” with being “holy,” set apart for His purposes. – Anything we keep off the altar becomes competition for His throne (Luke 14:33). • Obedience over Ritual – “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). – Proverbs 15:8 reminds us that “the sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.” – Offerings that ignore clear commands (integrity, purity, love) may be generous in amount yet unacceptable in essence. • Faith-Fueled Giving – “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). – Abel’s gift was “commended as righteous” because it was offered “by faith” (Hebrews 11:4). – Giving that depends on God’s provision—not personal surplus—breathes faith into every dollar, talent, and minute we lay before Him. • Cheerful Generosity – “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). – Gratitude transforms duty into delight; resentment sours even extravagant gifts. – The Macedonian churches “gave beyond their ability” with overflowing joy (2 Corinthians 8:1-3). • Sacrifice that Costs Something – David vowed, “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). – The widow’s two small coins outweighed larger sums because she “out of her poverty put in all she had” (Mark 12:44). – Costly worship declares Christ worthy of every comfort we surrender. • Purity of Heart – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). – Unconfessed sin dulls the fragrance of our worship (Isaiah 1:11-17). – Regular repentance keeps the altar clean and the offering sweet. • Love and Reconciliation – Jesus said, “First be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). – Horizontal peace authenticates vertical devotion (1 John 4:20-21). – Animosity left unresolved clouds the aroma of our praise. • God-Centered Motive – “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). – Giving to impress people steals glory that belongs to Him alone (Matthew 6:1-4). – When the applause of heaven satisfies our hearts, earthly recognition loses its grip. Putting It into Practice Today 1. Start each day by freshly surrendering your body, time, and plans to God (Romans 12:1-2). 2. Examine motives before giving—ask if love for Christ and neighbor is the driving force (2 Corinthians 5:14). 3. Keep short accounts with God through confession so sin doesn’t spoil the offering (1 John 1:9). 4. Give thoughtfully and proportionally, but stretch far enough to feel dependence on Him (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). 5. Serve in unseen ways that only the Father notices, trusting Him to reward openly (Matthew 6:4). 6. Celebrate His faithfulness every time He provides seed to sow and bread to eat (2 Corinthians 9:10-11). The Fragrance That Lasts When our lives echo the surrendered heart of Christ—who “loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2)—every act of obedience, every dollar joyfully released, every moment spent in humble service rises like incense before the throne. That is how our offerings remain “pleasing to the LORD” today. |
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