What Aroma Comes From My Sacrifice?

What Aroma Comes From My Sacrifice?

The first thing Noah did when he and his family stepped out of the ark, having been saved from the flood, was to build an altar to the Lord. He took from all the clean animals and birds and offered them as burnt offerings on the altar. “And the Lord smelled the well-pleasing aroma . . .” [Norw.] Gen. 8:21.

When we make a sacrifice, the question is: is there a well-pleasing aroma from my sacrifice? That is what has value for God. Many people can sacrifice much time, energy, money, etc. However, is there a well-pleasing aroma that comes from the sacrifice?

It is written that “God loves a cheerful giver.” When we give our sacrifice with joy, that sacrifice gives off a glorious aroma. In Heb. 13:15 it’s written, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” When praise accompanies our sacrifice, it thus becomes a well-pleasing aroma to the Lord. In Heb. 12:28 we are exhorted to be thankful and thereby serve God in a well-pleasing way. [Norw.] Thankfulness gives my sacrifice an aroma that is well-pleasing to the Lord.

We see that it is the attitude in which our sacrifices are given that has value for God. May it be that in all our sacrifices, in our lives and ministries, there is a well-pleasing aroma of joy, thankfulness and praise to the Lord. Dead works do not produce a well-pleasing aroma to the Lord, even though they may seem impressive in the eyes of men. But the blood of Christ will cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God. Heb. 9:14.