Today’s Tasting: Leviticus 1-4: Today we begin reading the third of five books written by Moses, the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus gives the nation of Israel instructions for worshipping and obeying a holy God. The Lord speaks to Moses in the tabernacle, and tells him, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord …’” (Leviticus 1:2). What follows in the first four chapters of Leviticus are detailed instructions from the Lord for different offerings from the people and how these offerings are to be treated by the priests.
Today’s Nourishment: I have to admit I wasn’t that excited about the prospect of writing about the offerings described in Leviticus. It seemed to me that God’s people lived their lives in those times slaying, skinning, cutting up, removing organs, arranging, sprinkling blood, wringing necks, tearing wings, burning; baking breads in ovens and on griddles and in pans, and roasting grains. Looking at my own life and the many ways in which I sin, I don’t know how they had time to do anything else besides offer sacrifices!
Then, I started thinking about the words of the Apostle Paul in Second Timothy: all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching and training. The more I meditated on Today’s Tasting, the more I saw Jesus—the Ultimate Spotless Lamb, the only son of God, THE OFFERING.
Hebrews chapter 10 tells us that Jesus came to do away with the way of life of offering sacrifices described in the Old Testament. “… we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (10:10). In verses 19-25 we are told about a whole new way of life—we are to draw near to God in faith. We are to be about our Father’s business by confessing our hope without wavering, urging one another to love and doing good deeds, assembling together, and encouraging one another.
So far today, I have been busy with the things of God. I have prayed, journaled, and studied my Bible. I am confessing my hope in God to you through this blog. I will assemble with other believers later today for a Bible study. I hope that by sharing I have encouraged and stimulated you to love and good deeds, as we’re instructed to do in Hebrews.
What kind of love and good deeds do you offer today?
Tomorrow’s Delight: Leviticus 5-7
Kelly Quinn, South Carolina, mom of seven
kellyquinn.blogspot.com
facebook.com/kelly.quinn.1420
Pinterest.com/kellyquinn
Yes Kelly I’m encouraged and thank you. In verse 22 says- let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Lets truly open our hearts and minds and wills trusting Him with unwavering faith which we all know the Holy Spirit will help us and fill us daily. For He who promised is FAITHFUL. Hallelujah!!!!
Tammy, you mentioned that verse 22 says, “Let us draw near.” “Draw near” is a phrase that takes on the meaning of “sacrifice.” We could say, “Let us sacrifice with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Lord, I sacrifice my body as a living sacrifice to you for you to fill me and live your life in and through me today. Thanks, Kelly for another day to esteem Christ and encourage believers.
Kelly, I too, am thankful that Jesus came to be our sacrifice, because, like you said, I don’t know that I’d get much else done offering sacrifices they did in the Old Testament, I mess up so much, I know I would’ve been offering sacrifices, a lot!