The good news is that there are at least two things which God prefers more than sacrifice. Who among us is that crazy about sacrifice to begin with? But two things God likes from us even better than sacrifice? Surely that's good news.

To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
- Proverbs 21:3

The bad news is that the two things... are "to do righteousness and justice."

These sound like positive enough things, but when it comes down to it they are messy, difficult, costly in their own right. Smack in the middle of the "doing righteousness and justice" footpath there are many obstacles, inhospitable people, uncooperative structures, selfish motives, uncomfortable situations, and big risks.

Sacrifice can be a difficult term for us New Covenant people to wrap our minds around, since we've long ago ceased spilling the blood of innocent animals as a tangible and painful substitute for the consequences of our sin.

For people who will accept it, Jesus was the once-for-all sacrifice to replace that old prescription; but Jesus also redefines sacrifice. "Take my yoke on your shoulders," and "learn from me" and "take up your cross and follow me." These are the new sacrifices Jesus calls us to.

As we follow Jesus, what do we find him teaching and doing? No surprise, we find him doing righteousness and justice, down in the alleys and slums and brothels; doing righteousness and justice in the neighborhood gang's own turf, among the thieves and powermongering politicians; at the watering hole; in the kitchen and in the morgue.

Jesus' style of doing righteousness and justice is not to merely vote for someone who supposedly will appoint adequate Supreme Court Justices, then go back to watching our prime time TV in our dens.

Jesus' style of sacrifice IS for us to mimick his exercise of righteousness and justice, and it involves our incarnation into the communities near which God has placed us, where there will always be pockets of unrighteousness and injustice.

In the cost-benefit analysis, following Jesus is still good news even though it involves cost. The benefit is greater than the cost.

The extra good news is that when we do go out of our way to do righteousness and justice, we find that Jesus is already there, already working, and we are simply coming alongside.