The rejected Sacrifice
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
After the sin of man, God has placed man on sacrifice in other to meet up His divine standard, these sacrifices are to bridge the gap between Him and us, to profess our faith, love and total dependant on Him.
The mode, manner, motive, and items of our sacrifices determines its acceptability before Him... In the old testament, it is easy to know if a sacrifice is acceptable or not immediately it has been offered
Such was the case of Cain and Abel, both offered sacrificial offerings unto God in thier best capacity in appreciation of what God has done for them. But immediately the sacrifice was offered, both knew which was accepted and which was rejected.
Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
The Lord rejected Cain's sacrifice, not because of the items he brought to the Lord as many suppose, but the motives and unfaithful heart with which he brought it.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Here Apostle Paul made an highlight that, it was the faithfulness of Abel that exulted his sacrifice better than that of his brother Cain, who was full of wrought and wickedness.
Today, there are many rejected sacrifices we thought was acceptable to God... There is no test to know if our sacrifices are acceptable before God except being full of the Holy Spirit, we offered sinful and abominable sacrifices to Him everyday, yet we still boast in Him to have done well.
Amos 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 5:22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 5:23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
Consider the life of King Saul,
He was sent by God from the mouth of Samuel to totally destroy the land of Amalek for they ambushing the children of Israel while coming from the land of Egypt. All the lands both man and animals became abomination to God.
But king Saul, couldn't resist the urge to destroy the best sheep, oxen, fatlings, and the lambs of the land, not for his own consumption but for a sacrifice unto God. This was the begining of His downfall.
He disobeyed God by not totally destroying the land, after taking the items of sacrifice, he still kept the king alive... Latter came up with sacrifice to honour God, this was rejected and his kingdom was divided.
So also many of us today, we reject the direction of God, the instructions of God and latter come back with sacrifices of praise, offerings and proceeds that are abominable unto God thinking we can bribe God for mercy. But in return God rejected us and our offerings.
No one can deceive God,
What is the motive of your sacrifices to God today? , are the offerings you give comes from the right motives and right source? It may be acceptable before the minister of God but a rejected sacrifice before God.
Many who presented themselves before God as sacrifices in the act of worship and service before Him are long gone rejected like that of Cain, their heart is full of evil, their body has been committed to sin, their lifestyle do not speak of the glory of God... So the rejection, they may appear godly, goodly, speak in tongues, perform miracles, pay the highest contribution in the house of God and perform all manner of services before Him, yet they themselves are rejected sacrifices.
Are you not a rejected sacrifice before God?, check your motives, check your life and check the items of sacrifice you are bringing before God...
Don't deceive yourself anymore, God knows who are his and give honour to those who do well before Him.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, forgive me for offering unto you an abominable sacrifice in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, redefine my life so I will be bake to offer unto you an acceptable sacrifice in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.