Sacrifice
The Philippian church sent gifts to Paul by way of Epaphroditus. Paul refers to those gifts as “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18). It’s interesting that Paul views those gifts as God did Hebrew burnt offerings (Lev. 1).
The burnt offering, according to Edersheim, was a sacrifice of surrender. Burning flesh, which to humanity might smell atrocious, was “a pleasing aroma to the LORD” (Lev. 1:9, 13, 17).
Giving up what is ours for the betterment of another is the embodiment of sacrifice. To some, the concept stinks, but to God it’s “a fragrant offering” that pleases him. May we remember that as we live out our faith for the betterment of others!
douglasryoung.net
I’ve been thinking about your sermon on sacrifices all week. I even looked up the definition in the dictionary and it is infinitely more than just giving up a TV show or shopping. People (me included) definitely have a distorted view of what’s really important. Thanks again, Doug. You are a blessing in my life.