Denying the Sacrifice
Continued from John 2:13-17
Imagine traveling for days or even weeks to Jerusalem for Passover. You have raised a spotless lamb from birth, cared for it, and brought it to offer as an act of worship to God. It represents obedience, love, and devotion. But upon arriving at the temple, the priest looks at your lamb, shakes his head, and tells you it is not acceptable. You must purchase one of the “approved” animals from the vendors inside the temple, and at a much higher cost.
That is what many faithful worshipers experienced in Jesus’ day. Their sincere sacrifice was rejected, not because it fell short of God’s requirements, but because of corrupt leaders who wanted to control the process and profit from it. This not only robbed people financially, it wounded their hearts. Something given to God in love had been treated as inadequate.
“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Luke 21:1-2
God never despises a sacrifice offered in sincerity. Whether it is large or small, public or hidden, costly or humble, when it is given from the heart, it is precious to Him. We see this when Jesus honored the widow who gave two small coins. In man’s eyes it was insignificant, but in God’s economy it was worth more than all the large gifts given that day because it was everything she had.
For us today, denying someone’s sacrifice can happen in many ways. We may belittle someone’s service because it looks different than ours. We may discourage their offering by setting up unnecessary rules or by judging the “quality” of what they bring. We may even dismiss our own offering to God because we think it is too small to matter.
The truth is, God delights in the willing heart. He sees every act of love, every moment of service, every sacrifice made in faith. This week, choose to encourage the sacrifices of others. Celebrate their gifts, no matter the size. And remember that your offering to God matters, not because it impresses others, but because it pleases the One who sees it all.
Imagine traveling for days or even weeks to Jerusalem for Passover. You have raised a spotless lamb from birth, cared for it, and brought it to offer as an act of worship to God. It represents obedience, love, and devotion. But upon arriving at the temple, the priest looks at your lamb, shakes his head, and tells you it is not acceptable. You must purchase one of the “approved” animals from the vendors inside the temple, and at a much higher cost.
That is what many faithful worshipers experienced in Jesus’ day. Their sincere sacrifice was rejected, not because it fell short of God’s requirements, but because of corrupt leaders who wanted to control the process and profit from it. This not only robbed people financially, it wounded their hearts. Something given to God in love had been treated as inadequate.
“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Luke 21:1-2
God never despises a sacrifice offered in sincerity. Whether it is large or small, public or hidden, costly or humble, when it is given from the heart, it is precious to Him. We see this when Jesus honored the widow who gave two small coins. In man’s eyes it was insignificant, but in God’s economy it was worth more than all the large gifts given that day because it was everything she had.
For us today, denying someone’s sacrifice can happen in many ways. We may belittle someone’s service because it looks different than ours. We may discourage their offering by setting up unnecessary rules or by judging the “quality” of what they bring. We may even dismiss our own offering to God because we think it is too small to matter.
The truth is, God delights in the willing heart. He sees every act of love, every moment of service, every sacrifice made in faith. This week, choose to encourage the sacrifices of others. Celebrate their gifts, no matter the size. And remember that your offering to God matters, not because it impresses others, but because it pleases the One who sees it all.
Posted in The Word Made Flesh
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