INTRODUCTION

If God is the rightful recipient of man’s sacrifices, then, by necessity, He is the only One that has a right to provide the rules by which these sacrifices are to be made. In the Old Testament, God established rules about the place (Joshua 22:29God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
See All...) and purity (Malachi 1:8And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
See All..., 14) of man’s sacrifices. Men who violated these rules choosing rather to adopt their own rules of sacrifice and worship, often suffered great consequences, not excluding death. Though the sacrifice of Christ for sin has changed many details of God’s demands for sacrifice, it has not changed the fact that man must do things God’s way. Past, present, and future, God’s rules for sacrifice are to be dictated by scripture.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) We ought to sacrifice to God. But before we do, He wants something else from us first (Proverbs 23:26My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
  See All...a). Consider these passages: 1 Samuel 15:22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
  See All...; Jeremiah 6:19-20 [19] Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. [20] To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
  See All.... The Macedonians first gave their hearts to the Lord and then honoured Him with their giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-5 [1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; [2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. [3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; [4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. [5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
  See All...).
• God desired pure sacrifices in the Old Testament. How could that same truth be applied to the New Testament believer? What is the nature of your sacrifices unto God?
• What are some rules by which the New Testament believer should offer sacrifices unto God? What are some sacrifices that you can offer unto Him today?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to show you His rules for sacrifice.
• Ask God to help you submit to His plan rather than your own.

HYMN

Have Thine Own Way, Lord!

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