PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Leviticus 1-3
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.” (Leviticus 1:17)
How can all these sacrifices be “an aroma pleasing to the Lord”???
And yet, “I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.” (Isaiah 1:11)
Was God really pleased by this ugly, disturbing destruction of life?
“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
God did not WANT Jesus to die a sacrificial death, but He did value it.
God did not enjoy the crucifixion, but He loved the selfless act of love.
Sacrifice represents killing self-pleasure, denying self for the sake of others.
Sin is an ugly violent distortion, sacrificing everyone and everything for my pleasure.
We sacrifice everyday, but usually for ourselves, not for God and others.
The OT sacrifices were an ugly and dramatic reminder of how awful sin is.
They also pointed to the kind of sacrifice needed to break free from sin.
Jesus loved God and us more than Himself, sacrificed Himself to free us, and this pleased God.
As a Jesus follower I am called to sacrifice myself for God and others (Romans 12:1-2).
“Do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16)
PRAYER
Lord, death and blood do not please God. The death of sin and the sacrifice of love do! Help me to change my sacrifices for selfish pleasure into the kind of sacrifices of self that please God.
When reading this passage, I can’t help but be overcome with the detailed and specific instructions – it is NO casual thing to make an offering to a Most Holy God. And so I too need to remember that I take God seriously – respect his name, his holiness. There are many distractions that can ‘contaminate’ my relationship with a God though his Holy Spirit – I must not let contaminants mess up my relationship as I offer my life in service to Jesus! It is Jesus that made the perfect sacrifice – for me and you!
Throughout the reading we hear – offering to the Lord; a pleasing aroma to the Lord. That is what my life needs to be – an offering to the Lord; pleasing aroma to Him and the is only a possibility because of Jesus since in Him I have life and life eternal. I must focus on Him as I live this day in His presence.
Make me a servant, humble and meek
Lord, let me lift up, those who are weak.
And may the pray’r of my heart always be;
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant, today.
Lord in you, through you, and for you are all things. Jesus I am yours and you are mine. Lord fill me with the knowledge of your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding that I may live a life worthy of you, bearing fruit in every good, pleasing to you Lord, and growing in the knowledge of God. Strengthen me Lord with all power according to your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience joyfully giving thanks to you Lord who has qualified me to live with the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light For you have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son you love from whom I have redemption and forgiveness of sins.