Read Exodus 20:22-26
An alter of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you.
Exodus 20:24 (NKJV)
After being given the Ten Commandments on Sinai, God instructed the people to build an altar of sacrifice. Before Christ came to earth, the sacrificial system bridged the gap between heaven and earth. The priest would intercede on behalf of the people and transfer the sins to the animal. God’s presence was with them as He would be the fire that comes down from heaven to consume the sacrifice (Leviticus 9:24, 1 Kings 18:38). God’s people used the sacrificial system until the fulfillment of the promise God made to Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:15).
Christ fulfilled the promise (Isaiah 53, John 3:16,17). He fully surrendered himself by dying on the cross. He died the death we should have died. We no longer need an earthly priest to intercede and offer sacrifices for our sins. Jesus Christ is now our high priest (Hebrews 4:14); we can boldly approach the throne seeking forgiveness. Does Christ still ask us to bring Him a sacrifice? Romans 12:1,2 says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Christ says come to Me, abide in Me, allow Me to help you do My Father’s will. We can now rejoice and build an altar; sacrifices of praise with our lips (Hebrews 13:15), a sacrifice of service in helping others (Hebrews 13:16), and a sacrifice of our lives (Romans 12:2). What are we willing to sacrifice today to be with Jesus? He has sacrificed His life so that we can live and be free in Him. With the little sacrifices we make each day, we can choose to give up temporary happiness for eternal treasures (Matthew 19:21).
Prayer Focus: Surrendering Ourselves as Living Sacrifices
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. May we respond by totally surrendering ourselves to you, In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thought for Today: Jesus Is Our Sufficient Sacrifice.
Contributor: Ms. Nichole Shaw (Florida, United States)
Screen Editor: Mr. Wensley Dias
Editor: Mr. Eliezer D. Rodriguez