Leviticus 22-24

February 7

Leviticus 22-24

A major portion of the Israelite’s worship involved the presenting of sacrifices to God. God did not want the leftover or deformed animals brought as a sacrifice. God demanded the very best of the crop, the very best of the livestock. Back in Genesis 4, Cain brought some of his crops as an offering to the Lord, but Abel brought the very best, the fat portions of some of the firstborn of his flocks. God was pleased with Abel, but not with Cain. Cain became angry with his brother, but God told him; “if you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”(Genesis 4:7a).

We do not bring animal or grain sacrifices when we worship God, but we still bring offerings. We bring offerings of praise when we worship in song, we bring offerings of ourselves when we commit to live for God, we bring offerings of our tithes and offerings financially, we offer out time when we serve in various capacities. We bring offerings, the question is do we bring the very best.

“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." (Romans 12:1, NIV)  God desires us as living sacrifices. He wants us to dedicate our lives to living for Him. Everything we have, everything we say, everything we do is to be a living sacrifice to God.

 

When we worship, are we focused on the things that occupy our mind all week or are we presenting God with our very best, our uninterrupted attention? When we offer ourselves to God, are we giving Him our leftover time or are we giving Him our very best? When we bring our tithes and offerings, do we bring our best, do we give to Him first, do we give Him the first 10%, or do we give Him whatever we have leftover? When we give God our service, do we give him our very best, using the gifts He has given us for the building of His Kingdom? Do we give God our very best?