For earlier entries in this series, click the following links:

Slow cooker faith, part 1: “on fire” for Jesus?

Slow Cooker Faith, part 2: Trying to re-kindle the flame

Slow Cooker Faith, part 3: Burn Victims

Slow Cooker Faith, part 4: What is slow cooker faith?

Slow Cooker Faith, part 5: Five Simple Ingredients

My observations began with the idea that on fire faith is not sustainable. Like marshmallows, an on fire Christian will blaze brightly for a time, but will burn out quickly.

The alternative I’m proposing is slow cooker faith. This is a faith that’s sustainable, consistent, and anticipates ebbs and flows of temperature. It’s a faith that simmers for a lifetime.

Here’s something else I want you to understand: This isn’t some new schtick or program or gimmick. It’s simply historic, orthodox Christianity presented in a familiar metaphor.

Romans 12:1 describes the Christian life this way: 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. (KJV)

There’s an old joke that the problem with living sacrifices is that they tend to roll off the altar. It’s humorous—it’ll preach. But it also misunderstands the point this passage is making.

Not every biblical sacrifice was a whole burnt offering. Those offerings were reserved for the atonement of sins and ritual impurities. Jesus has already provided that sacrifice for His people once and for all (Romans 3:23-26; Hebrews 1:3; 10:1-14).

The living sacrifice we are called to offer as our “reasonable service” in light of our great salvation is not a whole burnt offering. Because Jesus already accomplished that for us in His death on the cross.

Rather, we are called to offer ourselves as another kind of offering: as thanksgiving or free-will offerings. These sacrifices consisted of grain or wine poured out upon the altar (see Leviticus 7:11-15; 23:13; Numbers 15).

These offerings were also given alongside other, bloody sacrifices for sin (Numbers 28:11-15). They signified thanksgiving, peace with God, victory, and rest.

Jesus is the bloody sacrifice, the whole burnt offering. Your life is grain offering and wine offering, poured out upon the altar of gratitude. It is a life lived at peace with God, resting by faith in the victory of Christ.

It is a life that is turned outward to love and serve your neighbor: Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews‬ ‭13:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Your life in Christ is a grain and wine offering. Christ is our atonement offering, and His sacrifice makes us and our offerings holy to God. Our work and worship in this life are a pleasing aroma to God, because they are offered up through Christ.