Matthew 12:7
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
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In the old testament, sacrifice honored God by offering him creatures precious to man that are either bloody and unbloody. Among the bloody sacrifices, the most perfect sacrifice where the animal was completely consumed by fire and offered twice each day, in the morning and evening. The sacrifice could either be sin offering, guilt offering or peace offering was in gratitude, in fulfillment of a vow, or simply voluntary.
Sacrifice, then, is to expiate oneself of sins and gain the forgiveness of God.
However, in the new testament, salvation and forgiveness has already come in Jesus Christ. In effect, we do not need sacrifices for our own sake anymore, just to please God.
Sacrifice today is to share in the very work of God – by showing mercy to others as God has shown mercy to us! This is how God makes our lives special and that by showing mercy, we lead others to the love of God in Jesus Christ that they might receive Him as their Lord and Savior.
Turn to the living God for He will have mercy, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. It is not about living a perfect life of sacrifice anymore, but about people coming together and learning to love and accept each other.
By loving God more than we would have; showing mercy towards others by loving those who do not deserve to be loved, that is the supreme sacrifice with Jesus as the greatest example for all to follow.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus Christ, you are our merciful God become Man to redeem us from our sins. Open our eyes to the debt of love that we owe You for Your unspeakable merciful love for us. Open our hearts to give ourselves to You through those whom You place into our lives, so that by our mercy toward them we may win mercy from You and cooperate with You in the redemption of a sinful world. Amen +
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
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