November 21, 2023

II Chronicles 7: 1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. (NIV)

Instead of animals broken for sacrifice, he wants hearts broken over sin. God doesn’t need sacrifices, but he does want hearts.*

God fulfilled his promise to David to allow his son Solomon to build a temple for the Name of the Lord. After seven years of construction and preparation, Solomon dedicated the temple to the Lord. Following his prayer of dedication, fire came down and consumed the offerings and sacrifices, and God’s glory filled the temple. God’s glory was so bright that the priests couldn’t enter. How gratifying to have such a response to your prayers and your offerings! Clearly God was pleased with what was offered that day.

Throughout the Old Testament, we read about offerings that are without defect or blemish. With what kind of sacrifices and offerings could we please God today?

• Psalm 51: 17 – a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart 
• Proverbs 21: 3 – doing what is right and just 
• 2 Corinthians 8: 12 – willingness 
• Hebrews 13: 15, 16 – praise (the fruit of lips that confess his name); doing good and sharing with others 
• Mark 12: 33 – love God with all your heart, understanding, and strength; love your neighbor as you love yourself

Perhaps Paul sums it up best in Romans 12: 1, when he urges us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. We make references to the internal elements of our gifts to God: spirit, heart, willingness, love; but doing what is right and just, praise, doing good, and sharing with others – these are all completed by actions of our bodies. Everything that we are is contained within our bodies. In order for our offerings to be pleasing to God, we must give him our insides and our outsides. It’s all part of the package.

Why do we draw artificial lines between the inner life and the outer life? Jesus deserves to be Lord of every part.*