Soul Sacrifice
“He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me…” Ps. 50:23
Dan & I spent some time in mouth-dropping gaze at the wonders of the largest cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia – it’s intricate design and mind-boggling construction encompassing decades of sacrifice, sweat, lives and seeming inordinate amounts of marble; enormous columns of smooth, colorful, majestic marble.
And I have to wonder. Was…is it pleasing to the Most High? It certainly inspires awe, deepens mystery, pointing to the holy transcendence of God.
Whether it pleases him, I cannot know. But this I know, there are other sacrifices he asks of us today. In studying the Israelite king Hezekiah’s life, I noticed that his first order of business upon ascending to the throne was to clean out the mess that the temple had become with his father’s rule. With no tone of bitterness or exasperation of dealing with someone else’s bad decisions, it’s as though he says,
Come on guys, let’s clean this up. (2 Chron. 29:5)
After a lot of work and convincing others of the need, he says (my paraphrase),
Now that we’ve cleaned the mess of the temple and ourselves, let’s bring God sacrifices and thank offerings. (2 Chron. 29:31)
Well, what was so important about that? Why would a king who has enemies prowling on his borders ready to pounce, make his first order to re-instate worship that had been long lost? Shouldn’t he focus on the imminent danger to the very existence of his nation? Shouldn’t we focus on our circumstances, the threats that are ever before us to take away our way of life, our identity or the things we love?
Well…
Not without putting things in order! I think King Hez had the right order. Preparing the temple (i.e. myself, His temple today – where He dwells! 1 Cor. 6:19) SO THAT I can bring sacrifices of thanksgiving and then have a right perspective on the other things.
This is a good week to do that for us Americans. Thanksgiving! It’s a holy privilege that we take too lightly. How’s your temple? Have things made their way in that pull your allegiance, take away from undivided worship or clutter the altars?
How can you prepare your temple to bring thank offerings?
This may give a few hints into your soul:
- What clutters your time and dulls your motivation to know God?
- What has your heart’s allegiance above all else? (safety, comfort, significance, approval?)
- What do you work hard to avoid?
What do I give up when I offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving?
(I.e., Thanking him for things that I’m not naturally thankful for)
- Perceived control (Ex., if I thank God for a health situation I’d rather have him change, it could feel like I’m giving up.)
- Entitlement. I’ve worked hard to get here and be this…so I should have _______________. (God owes me.)
- Putting hope in a changed situation rather than in Him.
- My dream. (Which often leads to better more lasting dreams.)
- Other?
What do I gain with a sacrifice of thanksgiving?
- Freedom to walk in joy into my messy reality without demanding that it be different.
- Anticipation of his surprising work in me, in the situation, and maybe in others.
- Ability to let him set the agenda and let go of mine.
- Humility – the realization, acceptance of who he’s made me and how I can pour that out for others.
- New dreams, holy curiosity and hunger for more.
- Freedom to bring my complaints to him and wrestle, but to leave with joy.
- Other?
Come on guys, let’s clean up so we can make some sacrifices!!
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…” Heb. 13:15