God has always required sacrifice from His people. Some people say that, while it is true that people gave sacrifices in the time before the law of Moses, there is no record that God had told them to do so. However, if God did not tell people what and how to offer sacrifices, then God could not legitimately find fault with Cain’s sacrifice in Genesis chapter four. Also, in Hebrews 11:4 we read, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Abel’s sacrifice was by faith, faith comes by hearing; therefore, God must have told them what to do, even though God’s instructions pertaining to sacrifice are not recorded in the Old Testament. Regulations regarding the sacrifices under the law of Moses are found in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Under the New Testament, God’s people are still required to offer sacrifices. We don’t sacrifice animals, but we are to offer other things to God. In Philippians chapter four the apostle Paul commends the Philippian Christians for their monetary support of his preaching (vs 10). In verse 18 he calls the money that was sent to him “...a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.” In Hebrews 13:15 the Hebrew writer says, “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.” In verse 16 of the same chapter he says, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” So the money we offer to God on the first day of the week, the praises to God that we offer in song or in prayer, doing good to others, are all sacrifices we offer to God. We must remember though that, like the sacrifices under the law of Moses, we must give our best. God does not accept half-hearted sacrifices. God has always required sacrifices from His people and this is not unreasonable since He sacrificed His Son for us (Ephesians 5:2). Since we owe God everything, we should be willing to sacrifice everything for Him. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1).