S)"4 You shall offer the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; 5 also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a continual burnt offering which was ordained in Mount Sinai as a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD."
Numbers 28:4-6 (NASB)
O) A big part of Christianity is the fact that we no longer have to make sacrifices to atone for our sins. Jesus was the ultimate, permanent redemption and His sacrifice upon the cross is an everlasting sin offering... but what about the other offerings? Obviously, the biggest issue between us and God is our sin and Jesus being that offering, paying for all of our mistakes and offenses against God and each other, this is the most important aspect of the Christian faith. Without His sacrifice, after all, we are still guilty and bound for hell. But, as I read through the Old Testament, and I read about who the Father in heaven is, and how we can please Him, I can't help but wonder how He might still desire soothing aroma...
A) Now, in my world today, it is so impractical to offer burnt sacrifices twice a day that it is basically impossible. We find another way in Hebrews 13:15, however, where we see that our praise to God and giving thanks to His Name is a new sacrifice to Him. This echoes numerous Psalms that refer to offering prayers, worship, or praise as offerings and sacrifices. In fact, King David even says in Psalm 141:2, that raising his hands is like the evening sacrifice... All of this together tells me I worship passionately, which is good, but I might not worship as often as God might like. That's not to say that I'm sinning by not worshiping Him twice a day (and four times on Sundays, see Numbers 28:9 where the sacrifices are doubled), I just feel like this might be a good way to honor Him. I don't want things of my life toward God to become hollow motions, but I do want to find ways to become more devoted, more often. I'm going to try making it a point to acknowledge and thank God, out loud (per the Hebrews verse), twice per day, once in the morning and once at night. I don't know if it will be a full blown worship song, or anything, but I need to do a better job acknowledging His sovereignty in my life everyday.
P) Father, Your ways are perfect and Your goodness to me does not fail. You only do wondrous things, God who wills to save. Your wisdom and perspectives are too far beyond me to comprehend them. Your love is unstoppable and Your mercies are interminable. I will worship You in all areas of my life, God. I want my words, prayers, songs, deeds, life, finances, marriage, parenthood... all of it, God, I want it to all honor Your Name. I would have nothing if not for when You saved me. I would lose it all if not for that You will save me again. I want to thank You LORD, each day in the morning and each day at night. Let my thanks to You be like the morning and evening sacrifices, pleasing aromas before You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment