Hey you guys, Numbers chapter 28.
This chapter focuses a lot on all the different kind of offerings that the Israelites were to make. And they were to be made often. Often, because they were constantly in need of forgiveness and more often in need of being made holy. The offerings were to be done with the best ingredients and without defect. Such offerings were a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It was a pleasing aroma because God loved to see His people made new and clean.
Today is not much different. I feel the principles are the same yet the techniques are different. God still loves to see us walking in Holiness with him. He loves to see us clean, holy and forgiven. It's a sweet-smelling aroma when we are right with God. Today we don't have to do sacrifices of animals because Jesus did the sacrifice for us once and for all. He was the perfect sacrifice that defeated sin. To have Christ is to have victory over sin.
I said Jesus's sacrifice was sufficient for the forgiveness of our sins. But because of temptations and because of our sin nature, we still need to daily surrender our lives to the Lord. Here's how I describe what surrender means:
- Surrender is our desire to be holy before God. It's our desire to confess our sins before God and repent from our sins.
- Surrender is one declaring that you want Jesus in charge of your life and not yourself.
- Surrender is yielding to the power of God for His control versus trying to take control ourselves.
- Surrender is declaring to God that you want his will and not your own. You are ever so willing to serve him however he wants you to.
- Surrender is giving God your best, your WHOLE life.
I'm not so sure that I do a good job at this! There are certain compartments in my life that I just prefer to hang on to. Areas that I don't want to surrender 100% to God. Lord help me!!
When I think of sacrifice, I think of the death of one for another. When I think of surrender, I think of a death to self in some way as a yielding or submission to another. I’m so glad that Jesus came to be the perfect sacrifice for us. He deserves our complete surrender to HIm. A few Bible passages came to my mind today after reading chapter 28 and Pastor Blair’s comments on surrender.
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Galatians 2:19-20
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
As I read this chapter, I thought about God’s reminder to His children of the offerings, the addition of a few new offerings, and the specific detail of the instructions for the offerings. This was a new generation and they needed to be reminded and taught about the offerings … just as we need to teach our children and grandchildren about the Lord. Following the specific instructions for the offerings took time and gave the people the opportunity to prepare their hearts for worship. Unless our hearts are ready, worship is meaningless. When I prepare my heart to come before Him in a spirit of thankfulness, I know He is delighted because I feel the blessing all the way to my toes. We were truly made to worship Him!
When I read this chapter I think about how important eat step to the offering was, and how detailed and specific the instructions were. If one thing as off, or if a defect of blemish was present, it would not be pleasing or holy enough for the Lord. I wonder how often we make a sacrifice like that for that Lord? I know in my life, On Sunday’s I am late to church sometimes. Or during the sermon I find my mind drifting off, thinking about my grocery list, or the busy week ahead. I check my watch throughout mass. And if I’m being honest, going to mass is probably the closest “sacrifice” of my own time and daily life. It’s the only time I leave my house to go somewhere else and try to show up for the Lord. I want my time at mass to look more like a holy and pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. And I don’t want Sunday mass to be the only sacrifice I bring before the Lord. Once a week, for one hour, shouldn’t be enough for the life I want in Christ. So many other aspects of my life take up my time and attention. I saw a quote today that really spoke to me,
“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it in not there. There is no such thing.” C.S. Lewis
I couldn’t agree more wholeheartedly with that statement, yet I find myself struggling to get there. I carve out a small part of my day to be with God, and struggle throughout the rest of my day to feel energized and positive. I need to allow God fo infiltrate every part of my life. I need to bring a sacrifice worthy and holy for Him. I pray I can make God the center of my life today and everyday!
The offerings were to be done with the best ingredients and without defect.
Today I’m going to try and make my day by using the best ingredients without defect for the LORD