How can we ensure our spiritual offerings are "acceptable" to God today? Our Foundation Verse “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) What God Counts as a “Spiritual Offering” • Praise and thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15) • Acts of love and mercy (Philippians 4:18) • Financial gifts given in faith (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) • A life of obedience and surrendered body (Romans 12:1) • A broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) Why Some Offerings Miss the Mark • Offered without genuine faith (Hebrews 11:4) • Motivated by pride or showmanship (Matthew 6:1-4) • Given while harboring unconfessed sin (Isaiah 1:11-17) • Detached from love for Christ (1 Corinthians 13:3) Four Keys to Presenting Offerings God Accepts 1. Center everything on Jesus Christ – Our verse anchors acceptability “through Jesus Christ.” – No gift can please the Father apart from the Son (John 14:6). 2. Walk in holiness, not perfectionism – “Be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15). – Holiness is daily repentance and Spirit-empowered choices. 3. Offer in faith and gratitude – “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). – Gratitude turns duty into worship. 4. Align heart and action – God values the heart posture more than the outward form (Micah 6:8). – Integrity between motive and deed declares Christ’s worth. Living It Out This Week • Begin each day by yielding your body and agenda to God as a “living sacrifice.” • Turn ordinary tasks into worship by consciously doing them “for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). • Give generously and secretly; let God alone see (Matthew 6:3-4). • Keep short accounts with God—confess sin quickly so nothing clogs the altar. • End each day with verbal praise, naming specific mercies received. Verses to Keep in Sight Romans 12:1 • Hebrews 13:15-16 • Philippians 4:18 • Psalm 51:17 • Micah 6:8 |
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