In the Old Testament God was never pleased with the sacrifices of goats and bulls but was only appeased. The Psalmist brought out the heart cry of God in Psalm 40:6-10 when he said that “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require”. Although the need for blood sacrifice was fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ once and for all at Calvary, the principle of sacrifice was not abolished.

How do we make our sacrifices spiritual? When Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on a single day at the bronze altar before the Lord – It was a noisy day in Israel as the screams of the offered animals  reached the throne of God (2 Chronicles 1:6, 7). God was so pleased with the thousand burnt offerings of Solomon that He appeared to Solomon on the same night.

Apostle Peter mentions that we as living stones are being built up into a spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We are also called as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and His own special people who will proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:5, 9).

In conclusion, the Lord wants us to offer sacrifices of praise that is, the fruit of our lips that acknowledge His name! (Hebrews 13:15) He no longer expects the fruit of the lips that emanated from the cry of goats and bulls but shouts of praise from His blood-bought priests – we His own sheep!

Thought for the day:

In the OT, the animals screamed and shed its blood.

In the NT, Jesus shed His blood so that we shout His praise.