Fri.’s Devo - Our Offerings

Read: Leviticus 1:1-3:17; Mark 1:29-2:12; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 9:13-18 God told Moses what kind of offerings to bring to him. The first was the burnt offering. The burnt offering was the “olah” in Hebrew. It was the only sacrifice that is entirely consumed on the altar and sometimes referred to as the whole offering. It represents Jesus’ finished work on the cross. When we become a child of God we offer ourselves to him. This is what Romans 12:1 means “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” It was offered of a person’s own free will. He was to put his hand on the head of the offering and transfer his sin to the animal and the animal would make atonement for him. Jesus made atonement for our sins and when we freely offer ourselves to him. *** The grain offering was called the “minchah” in Hebrew. It was given of the fruits of ones labor like our tithe. It was to either get favor from God or keep the favor of God. It is what Malachi 3:10 means: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” *** There was to be no yeast or honey added. In other words, no sin or bribes. I should be seasoned with salt. In other words, it must be something that cost you. It was to be anointed with oil and have frankincense laid on it. The oil and frankincense pertains to the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the frankincense is the sweet aroma of a heart that is honored to bring his best to the Lord. *** The peace offering is the “shelamim” in Hebrew. It pertains to atonement that allows the person to eat the meat of the sacrifice. This was a free will offering and the cooked animal was shared by the priest and the worshiper. It was I see this as our daily cleansing of our sins to come before God with a clean conscience. It renews our fellowship with God and with man. It is representative of Communion where we eat of Christ’s flesh and drink his blood. It was often given on a joyous occasion. We are so blessed that we can be atoned from any offense against God by just humbling ourselves and asking for his forgiveness. It definitely gives us peace and renews our fellowship with the Lord. *** In Mark, Jesus had just cast out an unclean spirit from a man and amazed the crowds. Then he went to Peter’s house and healed his mother-in-law. All of this was done on the Sabbath. When the Sabbath was over at sunset, a crowd of people came to Peter’s house and gathered at the door. He healed many and cast out demons. He cleansed a leper and told him to go and present himself to the priest as a testimony to them that the Messiah had come. *** News about Jesus spread quickly so that everywhere he went he preached, healed and delivered. In Capernaum, the crowd was so thick in one of the homes that a paralytic was lowered down through the roof so Jesus could heal him. Jesus saw their faith and forgave the sins of the paralytic. The scribes heard him say this and thought he was blaspheming God to pronounce forgiveness on someone when he wasn’t a priest and the man hadn’t brought a sacrifice. Jesus perceived their thoughts and asked them what was easier, to tell a man his sins were forgiven or to say to rise up and walk. But, so they would know that he was the Son of Man he told the man to rise and take his bed and walk. The man immediately rose up and walked. Everyone was amazed and praised God. *** Jesus was trying to bring in a new system of grace. He was stirring up their faith to see the power of their own words and how the priesthood was being transferred to all of them if they only had faith. That is still his mission in us. *** Lord, may we stir up the gifts within us that you are wanting to use. May we step out in faith and do the things that you did following the Spirit you have put in our hearts.