No Bull - April 21 Readings: Joshua 15-16, Luke 13:22–14:11, Psalm 50:4–10, Proverbs 10:21–22

Links to April 21 Readings: Joshua 15-16, Luke 13:22–14:11, Psalm 50:4–10, Proverbs 10:21–22

If you have made it this far in your reading through the Bible, you know that God ordered an elaborate (and often hard to follow) system of sacrifices for his people, detailed in Leviticus 1-7 and in other passages throughout the Law. Sin requires a blood sacrifice as its atonement. These sacrifices temporarily (according to Hebrews) brought forgiveness of sin and foreshadowed the great sacrifice to be made by Christ once for all on the Cross.

But Israel forgot that it was not just the blood of bulls or goats that pleased God. They tended to think that if they just brought the appropriate sacrifice at the prescribed time, they could keep God happy and live life as they pleased. But God made it clear he was not playing their game.

In Psalm 50:10, God declared,  "I will not accept a bull from your household or a male goat from your pen. He went on to say he had all the animals he needed. What God was looking for was not a barbeque, but a heart of love and devotion to him. All the offerings Israel offered could not make up for the fact that they were living in sin and disobedience.

Today, God is not looking to fill buildings on Sunday morning. He is not a televangelist begging for your money, nor is he insecure and seeking your approval. God cannot be pacified with a couple of hours on your time on Sunday, a few bucks in the offering plate or a few good works in the community. God wants your heart.

The only offering that pleases God is the one he demanded through Paul in Romans 12:1. Having described the amazing work of God through Jesus Christ in chapters 1-11, Paul now instructed the Romans what they should do about it.

"In view of God's mercy, present your bodies as living sacrifices." 

God is not seeking a little of our time or money or talents or anything else. He wants us, all of us, whole-heartedly, unreservedly, given over to him. We give ourselves to him as living sacrifices - the only sacrifice God really wants.

Don't think you can just put a bull on the altar and then live as you please. God wants all of you, all of me, and he will settle for nothing less.

Father, I give you the sacrifice that matters, the only one that is an appropriate response to the work of Christ. I give myself to you - body, soul and spirit. I am yours.