King David, after his great sin that would have brought him and the nation down if it had not been for God's grace - wrote these words in Psalm 51, "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings - the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

God didn't want all the sacrifices - but they were necessary for us to see the cost of our sin. A metaphor - a story - but a powerful one. A thousand year's later St. Paul connected the dots when he wrote these words in Hebrews 10, "Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am - it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God.' "

Only one sacrifice was ever necessary - and as we look into the eyes of our Jesus on the cross - we see the love of God - and know that we are forgiven and free. Now we give from the heart - sacrifices of thanksgiving - and the BBQ is just a place for friends and family.