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“ May all you give (of your time, your energy and your money) be a pleasing aroma to God.” <>< Dona (02/06/20)
I encourage you to read Leviticus 1 through 4. If you don’t have a Bible handy I encourage you to go to Biblegateway.com to read the chapters I’ve listed above. Left click on the website above and then click on the drop down box that appears. The Biblegateway website will open for you to use. Type in the chapters you want to read and select the translation you want to read them from. Click search and the chapters will appear. Once you read the suggested chapters close the screen and you will return here.
Leviticus 1 is about the burnt offering. It is important to remember that neither sacrifice nor repentance actually caused the sin to be taken away. God alone forgives sin.
Leviticus 1:13 (my Bible notes) The “aroma pleasing to the Lord” is a way of saying that God accepted the sacrifice because of the attitude of the people making the offering.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord You accepted the offerings of the Israelites as a pleasing aroma to You when they gave correctly.
Something to think about
When the Israelites gave offerings to God they were to give the right way, with the right motive and with the right attitude if they wanted to please God.
Something to experience
Our way of giving along with our motive and our attitude should also be right so our offerings (of time, energy and money) will be a pleasing aroma to God.
Prayer
Lord I pray we will always give with the right motive and the right heart attitude (Luke 1:17; Hebrews 12:11). Lord I pray our offering of prayers will be a pleasing aroma to You too (Revelation 5:8, 8:4). In Christ Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.
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Leviticus 2 is about the grain offering.
Leviticus 2:13 (my Bible notes) The offering was seasoned with salt as a reminder of the people’s covenant (contract) with God. Salt is a good symbol of God’s activity in a person’s life, because it penetrates, preserves, and aids in healing.
Prayer
Lord I ask You to be active in our life. Lord I pray You will penetrate every aspect of our life, preserve us from the evil all around and heal us of our sins and shortcomings (Mark 9:50: Colossians 4:6). In Christ Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.
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Leviticus 3 is about the fellowship offering.
Leviticus 3:1 (my Bible notes) A person gave a fellowship (or peace) offering as an expression of gratitude and a means of establishing fellowship between himself and God.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord I’m so grateful we live in this time period.
Something to think about
I know right now with the Coronavirus spreading you may not be grateful for this time period.
Something to experience
But I personally am grateful. I’m grateful that I’m just passing through this earth on my way to my eternal home in heaven.
Prayer
Lord I pray anyone who’s reading this that hasn’t already committed their life to you will do so today so they too will be grateful for Your free gift of salvation and therefore eternal life with You.
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Leviticus 4 is about the sin offering.
Leviticus 4:3 (my Bible notes) The sin offering was for those who (1) committed a sin without realizing it or (2) committed a sin out of weakness or negligence as opposed to outright rebellion against God. The death of Christ Jesus was the final sin offering in the Bible (Hebrews 9:25-28 tells why).
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord thank You for sending Your Son as the last sacrifice.
Something to think about
Additional notes from my Bible: Leviticus may seem like a record of bizarre rituals from a long ago time period. Animal sacrifice is obsolete and repulsive to many of us today, but it was practiced in the Middle Eastern culture. Back then when people saw the sacrificial animals being killed, they were sensitized to the importance of their sin and guilt.
Something to experience
Though we no longer make sacrifices, may reading about these offerings help us to become more aware of sin in our life. Our culture’s casual attitude toward sin ignores the cost of sin and need for repentance and restoration. Since creation God has made it clear that sin separates people from Him and that those who sin deserve to die. God decided from the very first that He would come into our world and die to pay the penalty for all humans. In the New Testament times, Christ’s death became the last sacrifice needed. He took our punishment once and for all. Animal sacrifice is no longer required. Now, all people can be freed from the penalty of sin by simply believing in Jesus and accepting the forgiveness He offers.
Prayer