As I have been reading the Old Testament and learning about Abraham through the scriptures I have been surprised at how often Abraham offers a sacrifice and burnt offerings to God. Of course this is a foreshadowing that the Lamb of God - Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice - which allows us all resurrection and salvation - yet I have pondered frequently how devoted to God that Abraham was. I desire to be like Abraham and show how much that I love God.
In Genesis 14:18 Melchizedek, King of Salem " brought bread and wine ". This documentation likely was Abraham taking the sacrament. ( Melchizedek was the " Priest of the most high God " which gave him authority to bless and administer the sacrament )
In Genesis 14:20 we witness Abraham paying his tithing to Melchizedek.
Today we do not offer animal sacrifices to pay our tithing. Although we do pay our tithing from income that we make - as disciples of Christ whom have made sacred covenants with God - We have promised that we will offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God - whom we love and trust in.
In the Gospel Principles Manual it states :
"We Must Be Willing to Sacrifice Everything We Have to the Lord
- The Apostle Paul wrote that we should become living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God (see Romans 12:1). "
Romans 12 :
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
These scriptures explain that we must give up all of our worldly or natural desires. Mosiah 3:19 explains the same truth that : As the natural man with in us - we must put it off - and become willing to submit to God's will.
God's will is written throughout the scriptures and by prophets and apostles. Of course after "seeking " to know his will through our own studies of His words, we must also pray to receive conformation that what we are doing is actually His will in our lives?
- New Testament
15Love not the world , neither the things that are in the world . If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world .
The lust of the flesh includes all of our natural appetites for food, drink and all of the human urges - physical or emotional - that are not motivated out of righteousness.
The lust of the eyes includes materialism or coveting anything that we see but do not have and envying those whom have what we want.
Pride of life is ambition that is motivated out of selfishness, jealousy, being puffed up or revengeful.
I personally desire to work on overcoming my worldly ways. Just as we are blessed with seen - and unseen blessings as we physically pay our tithing- as we offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God - we are blessed with spiritual gifts and angels as our associates that help us serve Him better.
You are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms. If you live up to these principles how great and glorious!—if you live up to your privilege, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates. … If you will be pure, nothing can hinder.
Joseph Smith
"If we are to be a living sacrifice, we must be willing to give everything we have for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—to build the kingdom of God on the earth and labor to bring forth Zion (see 1 Nephi 13:37)." Gospel Principles Manual
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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