“ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?”

We know that the Old Testament is a shadow, or pattern of literal things that have become spiritual in the New Testament. As you read what is in the Old, you have to realize what the Lord was showing us for the New. One of the words that carry over is sacrifice. Under the Old Covenant, God asked for His people to bring an animal and offer it to Him as a sacrificial offering. It was an act of worship and praise to God. Without going into a lot of details, the bottom line was this; their worship had to cost them something. It wasn’t that they had to do all the time, but there were just certain times that God wanted to know if they were willing to pay an extra price.

Our worship is much different today, under the New Covenant. It’s not about bringing an animal, laying it on an altar, and building a fire. The Bible tells us that the fruit of our lips and the raising of our hands is now our praise and worship. Praise is what we do physically in the present; worship is our lifestyle. However, just because we know longer bring animals for sacrifice, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still offer a sacrifice. What I mean by that is, at times, our worship to God should still cost us something. It’s not something He requires of us all the time, but I do believe it mean’s something Him when we offer worship that is not convenient or comfortable.

We must be willing to sacrifice in our physical praise to Him and our lifestyle of worship. That means, sacrificing in the church, and out of the church. In the pulpit, and out of the pulpit. When we’re singing, and when we’re not singing. When we’re playing music, and when we’re not playing music. I could keep going, but I think you understand what I’m saying. It’s sacrificing in praise and worship. It reaches that level of sacrifice when you don’t feel like it, or you’re too overwhelmed, too stressed, and maybe too hurt. It’s in those moments that God is moved by what you do because He knows; IT COST YOU SOMETHING.

ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?