"And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:2

A true workmanship that God requires is one that is set out in sacrifice that comes from a pure heart and a contrite spirit.

God requires us to come to the table with a sacrifice that is holy and pleasing unto the Lord. A sacrifice that is placed with a willing heart, moved according to the purpose of God. It should be done with a willing and a joyous heart.

The sacrifice of Abel was pleasing before God because it came from the heart. And because it came from the heart, he did a bounty sacrifice. In the book of 2 chronicles 7: 5, Solomon offered unto the Lord a twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. God was pleased with this and he asked him what it was he wanted. His request was not to have riches, but to have wisdom to govern his people.

We should be asking ourselves today, what sacrifices are we bringing before the Lord? Is it a stale sacrifice? When we come before him, our bodies are drench and our hearts and minds not in him.

He requires a willing, contrite heart and a heart that has compassion for the weak. The Lord himself, upon seeing the 5000 people, the Bible says he was moved and had compassion over the people.

He himself gave his body for ransom for a sin he has not committed. A sacrifice of love and a pure heart. Holding no grudge. Upon seeing those who were beating him, he said, Lord, forgive them for they know not what they are doing. God requires a sacrifice of self, that is why Jesus said that any man that does not deny himself is not worthy to receive the kingdom of God.

In 1 Peter 4: 1., Peter cautioned that as much as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.

PRAYER

God, help us get rid of selfishness. That we may arm ourselves with the kind of sacrifice that Christ made for us. We cannot do this without you, Lord.