Righteous Offering

Follow Jesus example offering God the pleasing sacrifice of an obedient and humble heart as you serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness. 

“By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar…When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out…he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up…the king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored…The king said…Come home with me for a meal…Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you…For I was commanded by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came….a certain old prophet…answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me…Bring him back with you to your house…But he was lying to him…As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him”

1 Kings 13:1-33

At first glance, this might go down as one of the more odd passages in scripture. The story goes that a servant of God responds to the word of God and calls out Jeroboam for offering worthless sacrifices at the altar. The altar is the place where people meet with God and should be sacred. Jeroboam was doing what the letter of the law said and offering sacrifices. The problem was his heart and life were not aligned with God. He was practicing rituals, but not honoring or faithful to his relationship with God. 

Jeroboam's error is an easy trap to fall in to and one relevant for all of us. How often do we go through the motions or go through weekly routines with our minds on autopilot? Have you ever gone to church but found yourself sinning shortly after? The lesson is that what honors God most is a humble obedient heart. God does not need our sacrifices. He made all things. 

Beyond the sin of the unfaithful king, God’s own servant fails to obey God's command and pays the price with his life. He starts off well by calling out what Jeroboam is doing but he listens to what another prophet said rather than being obedient to the words of God. Jesus addressed this very issue when he challenged his disciples saying if you are value the opinions of others over mine then you are not centered in me. Ask yourself if you’ve allowed any other voices to have authority over God? 

“How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.” Psalms 4:2-5 

In the previous chapter, Jeroboam was actively worshiping false gods and encouraging others to do the same even though he had been given his role as king by God. We read that and see how obvious his sin was. Somehow it is easier to see where others fall short and when they sin against God. Jesus turned the tables around and asked us to look in the mirror. Ask yourself if there are any ways in which you are turning God’s glory to shame or allowing your heart to hold a place for other things you worship. 

David said sacrifice a righteous offering. What does that mean to you? What honors God the most? Time and again the Bible says that your heart is the holiest thing you can offer God. Have you offered God your heart today? There is a price to pay if you want an offering that pleases God.

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” Song of Songs 6:3 

The bride has found the simplicity of faithful love. Her heart is not longing to see how many people she can love or how she can fix any insecurities in her heart by getting many people to adore her. There is a singularity of her focus and her love. She is faithful. 

We live in a world full of likes and followers on social media. We live in a world grasping for attention and seeking our own glory at the expense of giving God our full and faithful heart. Have you committed to fully loving and following Jesus? Have you declared He is mine and I am his. Or have you said I believe, but still want to keep my options open to see who else might be good for me? 

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Isaiah 53:2-7 

In one of the most incredible passages that point to God‘s faithful servant, the Messiah Jesus Christ, we are told what He will endure. Long before Jesus ever set foot on this planet the prophet Isaiah spoke God’s word and God’s word never fails. Take the time to read each of the details that show Jesus is the One. 

Isaiah told us why Jesus died for us. He said the punishment that brought us peace was on Him. Jesus is the Prince of Peace because He made the way for peace. The righteous servant not only humbled himself, but did it so He could help others not help himself. If we are to be followers of Jesus then we should embrace the same mindset. What are markers of that mindset? My life is not about me.  Not my will but yours be done Lord. Use me to help others find peace. This is what Jesus did and what we are called to do. 

“In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah…his wife Elizabeth…Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless…an angel of the Lord appeared to him…Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John…he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord…you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words…Elizabeth became pregnant…God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin  …Mary. The angel went to her and said, “The Lord is with you…Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…his kingdom will never end…The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant…Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant…His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation…Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days…to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:5-79

Jesus said if you love me keep my commands. Obedience matters. He said no greater love is there than today down your life for others. Everything in these passages points us to Him. They show what the righteous servant looks like and how to live in a way pleasing to God that helps others find peace. 

See the contrasts and the connections. The man of God failed when he listened to a lie rather than standing on God’s truth. David sang of offering righteous sacrifices that flow from a heart that trusts the Lord. The bride fully devoted her heart by declaring I am His. Isaiah unveiled the Suffering Servant who perfectly obeyed the Father, humbly giving His life for that we might find ours. 

We see faithful servants in Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary. They were faithful before God ever blessed them or answered their prayers.  This is one of the secrets to how we live by faith and please the Lord. Jesus was faithful to the point of death before experiencing the power of the resurrection. Each of these servants was faithful and feared the Lord offering their hearts in order to bring God the glory. 

The story of scripture is not ultimately about imperfect servants trying harder, but about the perfect Servant and Savior who surrendered his very life, obedient for the joy set before Him on the cross. The point is we are all part of God’s story and can help bring peace to the world as we offer the righteous sacrifice of a willing heart that is obedient to God’s will even when it hurts. 

What sacrifice are you bringing before God today? Mundane rituals or meaningful praise by worshiping God with the best of what you have to offer? Whose voice carries the greatest authority in your life? Have you truly surrendered your heart and declared I am His? The Lord is not searching for religious routines or empty rituals. He delights in people who trust Him, repent gratefully, walk humbly, and gladly place their lives on the altar as a living sacrifice. The greatest worship you can offer is not simply what you sing with your lips, but how faithfully you obey that He would be glorified. 

Today, fix your eyes on Jesus. He suffered that we could be set free. He took our punishment that we could walk in peace. He humbled Himself so that we could be walk in holiness. By His grace, we no longer serve God out of fear, but with joy, gratitude, holiness, and righteousness. Offer Him your heart again today. Trust His word above every other voice. Walk in obedience even when it is costly. As you do, your life will become the pleasing sacrifice that glorifies God and points others to the One worthy of all praise.