Why was incense used in sacrificial offerings?

The scriptures point out that incense is like prayers in sacrificial offerings.  We know from Psa 141 that our prayers are like incense, which our hands are like the evening sacrifice.  Paul makes a startling statement from 1 Cor 19 that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore we are to honor God with our bodies.  John tells us that much incense to offer before the altar with the prayers of all the saints (all who have the Holy Spirit living in them).  I think Paul then sums it all up from Rom 12, that we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God because this is our spiritual act of worship before the Father through our High Priest and Lord, Jesus. We really need to learn the Way of Life that Jesus commands us to live and to learn from His teaching.  This is the only way we can show we love the Lord, by obeying, Jesus according to the Apostle John in 1 John 5.  Jesus said in John 14 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”  Let’s live our life as a living sacrifice.  Blessing

Stephen

(Rom 12:1 NIV)  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

(Psa 141:2 NIV)  May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

(Rev 8:3-4 NIV)  Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. {4} The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.

(1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV)  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; {20} you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

(1 John 5:3 NIV)  This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

(John 14:15 NIV)  "If you love me, you will obey what I command.