A Bloodless Sacrifice
Photo by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash
A Different Sacrifice
What image springs to mind when you hear the word sacrifice? Do you visualize a primitive pagan sacrifice of a bloody animal offered on a rock altar? Perhaps you think of a soldier or first responder's sacrificial bravery?
Not all sacrifices require blood to be spilled or the exchange of one life for another. Before the Lord Jesus offered Himself on the cross for humanity's salvation, He sacrificed His place and position in heaven with His natural birth on earth. Jesus humbled Himself by becoming fully human.
Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality.
Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance.
He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 GW)
Every Christian believer is called to offer himself or herself as a bloodless sacrifice by personally following the Lord (see Matthew 16:24; Romans 12:1). We don’t need to add our efforts to what the Lord did upon the cross to experience salvation. Instead, we are called to follow Him and His example.
Jesus' example of servant leadership—training disciples, healing people, washing feet—is our highest human example of humility and service. A life of genuine childlike faith is a bloodless sacrifice that can be offered in many ways.
In these final exhortations of Hebrews 13, we’re reminded of the responsibility of every follower of Jesus to reflect His character.
Scripture Text
We don’t have a permanent city here on earth, but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future. Through Jesus we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, words that acknowledge him.
Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God. [vss 14-16]
Obey your leaders, and accept their authority. They take care of you because they are responsible for you. Obey them so that they may do this work joyfully and not complain about you. (Causing them to complain would not be to your advantage.)
Pray for us. We are sure that our consciences are clear because we want to live honorably in every way. I especially ask for your prayers so that I may come back to you soon. [vss 17-19]
(Hebrews 13:14-19 GW) [Context– Hebrews 13]
Key Phrase
Through Jesus we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise.
Things to Consider
Genuine faith changes our perspective on life. It enables us to see beyond the immediacy of our circumstances to follow Jesus, our Lord. Personal attacks and slights don't need to be taken to heart because we follow Jesus, who endured great injustice at the hands of those He loved.
Praise and worship are more than words we speak or sing. Living an honorable life is a form of worship. True worship extends beyond our mouths and ourselves to benefit others, just as Jesus laid His life down for us. This requires real faith—genuine trust in the Lord—a relational trust beyond the theological beliefs we hold.
The key to submitting to spiritual leaders is our need for spiritual discernment. It’s easy to find fault with a leader’s humanity. It’s also easy to surrender responsibility to a leader’s authority to make them responsible for your life. Neither of these is good nor helpful.
We are to surrender our will only to God. Each of us is accountable to the Lord. We submit to authority as an act of faith—of trust in God. Living in genuine faith as a living sacrifice honors the Lord and enables us to be a blessing to others.
Digging Deeper Into the Text
What do we not have on earth? How is this connected to offering "a sacrifice of praise" or doing something that benefits others?
What exhortation is given about leaders? How is this relevant for us regarding submission to leadership today?
What sacrifices please God? What are the pleasing sacrifices included in this text?
How does the request for prayer and the following statement relate to sacrifices that please God?
Answer These Questions to Apply God’s Word in Your Life
Does your faith in God enable you to see how temporary our life on earth is as believers?
Have you experienced the blessing of offering a "sacrifice of praise" to God, especially when circumstances are difficult?
How do you think being a blessing to others becomes a sacrifice that pleases God?
In what ways have you offered a bloodless sacrifice to God in your life?
Here’s a link to a free study guide for the book of Hebrews— Study Guide and Study Questions for Hebrews
And you can also see some of my writing over on Substack too! Just click this link– Trip Kimball on Substack
