By “You are a priest and need to offer a sacrifice”—if someone was to say that to you, how would you reply? 1 Peter 2:4-5 says essentially that! A Christian is being built up “to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God”.
How do we “offer spiritual sacrifices”?
This is not the blood sacrifice that we need to be saved (Heb 9:22). Jesus offered Himself as the Lamb of God to take away our sins (John 1:29; Heb 7:22-28; Heb 9:12). Instead these are sacrifices that you and I, being Christians, need to offer continually (Heb 13:15).
Here are therefore some answers to “when last have you offered a sacrifice?”
“Last Sunday when I praised God by verbally acknowledging Him and Who He is in all His perfections and ways (Heb 13:15).”
“Yesterday, when I helped another and blessed them with what the Lord has given me (Heb 13:16).”
“This morning when I was again tempted to do things the world’s way, but because of my convictions from the Word of God about what He requires, I responded with godliness instead (Rom 12:1-2).”
“At month-end, when I was paying my bills, and gave money through my church for the work of the Lord (Phil 4:18).”
“At fellowship-time at church when I expended myself spiritually for the faith of a brother/sister in Christ (Phil 2:17).”
We are Christians with a Great High Priest Who offered a blood sacrifice on our behalf so we can be right with God. Now therefore, we continually offer spiritual sacrifices to God through our praise, our good works, and our love for one another.