Sacrifice of Person, Praise and Possessions
In the New Testament all believers are priests. They are holy priests, going into the sanctuary of God to worship, and they are royal priests going out into the world to witness.
"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. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light"[1 Peter 2:5, 9].
There are at least three sacrifices which a believer-priest offers.
First, there is the sacrifice of his person. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” [Romans 12:1].
The second is the sacrifice of praise. It is offered to God through the Lord Jesus. All our praise and prayer passes through Him before it reaches God the Father; our great High Priest removes all impurities and imperfections and adds His own virtue to it.
The sacrifice of praise is the fruit of those lips that acknowledge His name. The only worship that God receives is that which flows from redeemed lips.
The third sacrifice is the offering of our possessions. We are to use our material possessions in doing good, and in sharing with those who are in need. With such sacrificial living God is well pleased. It is the opposite of accumulating for self.
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