Worship and Sacrifice

A worship without sacrifice is not a true worship. This is what my pastor emiratus once said. This also tells us what it means to worship God. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son Issac, He wanted to teach him (and us) what it is to worship God. Before Abraham was called to sacrifice his son, he had worshiped Him by building an altar and calling His name at the altar. But, God wanted him (and us) to know the true worship. The true worship has to be accompanied with a sacrifice. Without a sacrifice, the worship is void and meaningless. The true model of worship was already shown by Abel. He sacrificed a sheep to worship. Then, when the Israelites came out of Egypt and the law was given to them, God specifically required sacrificial worships. Each worship required an animal sacrifice except for those who were too poor to possess an animal to sacrifice. This has two meanings. First, blood, which symbolizes life, had to be shed. Second, a meaningful and significant part of one's possession needed to be given up for worship.

When Jesus was sacrificed, the first part was fulfilled. His own life was given up to redeem our lives. For second, God gave up His one and only Son.

For us today, the first requirement is not needed any more. Worship no longer attaches to itself the first significance. But the second requirement is still required. Sacrifice is required. Whatever a significant part of our possessions is to be given up.