"You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, to be your God; I am the Lord." -Leviticus 22.32-33
God reminds His people that His name is holy and not to be profaned. He is to be set apart as the God of Israel, their only God. He has set them apart and brought them out of Egypt to be their God. God delivered them from bondage in order to be their personal God. He set them free so that they could fulfill the covenant and be a blessing to the world.
Over and over we see God reminding His people that He is the one who brought them out of Egypt to be their God. Over and over Israel complains about the hardships of the wilderness and talk about wanting to go back to Egypt, and yet God is patient with them, still wanting to fulfill the covenant.
We have been set free by God, so that He can sanctify us to fulfill His will. "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5.1). Freedom came at a very high price, and we must remember that. And we have been freed by God.
Men, what has God set you free from? What "Egypt" has He brought you out of? Is He your God? Have you lived in His freedom or have you turned back and submitted to the yoke of slavery?
God has set us free, let us live in that freedom, and never forget that He is the one who delivered us. It was nothing that we have done. God has freed us so that we can enjoy relationship with Him. Let us be set free so that He may be our God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Showing posts with label Leviticus 22. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leviticus 22. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Offer Your Best
"Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you. When a man offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. Those that are blind or fractured or maimed or having a running sore or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the Lord, nor make of them an offering by fire on the altar to the Lord." -Leviticus 22.20-22
God talks again about sacrifice, and tells the people that whatever they offer must be perfect. If there is any defect in it at all it is not to be offered because it will not be accepted. No matter what the offering is for, sin, guilt, or peace, it is to be perfect, or it will not be accepted.
God deserves the best, simply because of who He is. He deserves the best of our time. He deserves the best of our talents. He deserves the best of our resources. When we do something for God we need to do our very best. We need to use all our heart, soul, mind, and strength with anything we do for God.
Men, are you giving your best to God, or whatever you have left? If your tithe the first check you write before all the bills, or the last out of whatever is left? Do you squeeze prayer and Bible reading in after you've watched your nightly television programs, or are you turning the TV off so that you can give God your full attention? When you volunteer for some ministry do you do it joyfully and eagerly, or with reluctance and then give it a half hearted effort while you're there? Which of these actions do you think God accepts? The others it would be better if we didn't even do them. God only wants the offering that is properly offered and worthy of Him.
Nothing we can give to God is perfect. We are after all fallen human beings, who, inspite of redemption, still live in a fallen world. But what we offer to God can be our best. There were provisions in the sacrificial law that allowed pigeons to be offered instead of a bull, that way the poor weren't disqualified from worship. You may not be able to give $100 a month to God, maybe your best is $10, or even $5, but if you give it joyfully, and if it is your best, then God loves and accepts your offering.
What are you offering to God, your best of the left overs? Do you want Him to accept it or reject you? Let us always strive to give God our very best.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God talks again about sacrifice, and tells the people that whatever they offer must be perfect. If there is any defect in it at all it is not to be offered because it will not be accepted. No matter what the offering is for, sin, guilt, or peace, it is to be perfect, or it will not be accepted.
God deserves the best, simply because of who He is. He deserves the best of our time. He deserves the best of our talents. He deserves the best of our resources. When we do something for God we need to do our very best. We need to use all our heart, soul, mind, and strength with anything we do for God.
Men, are you giving your best to God, or whatever you have left? If your tithe the first check you write before all the bills, or the last out of whatever is left? Do you squeeze prayer and Bible reading in after you've watched your nightly television programs, or are you turning the TV off so that you can give God your full attention? When you volunteer for some ministry do you do it joyfully and eagerly, or with reluctance and then give it a half hearted effort while you're there? Which of these actions do you think God accepts? The others it would be better if we didn't even do them. God only wants the offering that is properly offered and worthy of Him.
Nothing we can give to God is perfect. We are after all fallen human beings, who, inspite of redemption, still live in a fallen world. But what we offer to God can be our best. There were provisions in the sacrificial law that allowed pigeons to be offered instead of a bull, that way the poor weren't disqualified from worship. You may not be able to give $100 a month to God, maybe your best is $10, or even $5, but if you give it joyfully, and if it is your best, then God loves and accepts your offering.
What are you offering to God, your best of the left overs? Do you want Him to accept it or reject you? Let us always strive to give God our very best.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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