Grand Sweep Daily
Leviticus 1:1-3 (NIV)
1 The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, 2”Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. 3 If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord.’”
Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)
6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Good morning!
Are you a gift-giver? I enjoy giving gifts. I look for special ways to express my gratitude and say I love you to my family and friends throughout the year. Sometimes, I’m not quite sure what to give. The “perfect gift” may be more than I can afford. What do you give your special someone who seems to have everything? Gift cards were popular presents last Christmas. Who wouldn’t enjoy a free meal, a tank of gasoline, or a shopping spree at their favorite store?
Every Sunday when we gather for worship, an offering plate is available for collection of our gifts to God. Everyone is invited to give a gift that might be pleasing to the Lord, an offering that can be used to help others in Jesus’ name. The gift may be monetary, or it could be something tangible, like food, clothing, or other necessities of life. I handed my grandson a dollar bill one Sunday morning as the offering plates were passed from row to row. He looked at me with great excitement and said, “Nanny, can I keep it?” Do you ever find yourself wanting to hold onto your gift rather than giving it away?
At the tent of meeting, the Lord called to Moses and gave specific instructions regarding the giving of sacrificial gifts. Every detail was meticulously explained. The burnt offering was given as atonement for sin. The grain offering represented thankfulness for daily needs. The fellowship offering was a gift of gratitude for intimate relationship between Creator and creation. These offerings were not intended to be the leftovers from our cupboard; rather, it must be our first fruit, pure and without blemish. The Father wants us to give our very best. When we lay it all down upon His altar, the sacrifice becomes a sweet scent that is pleasing to Him. God knows when we give our very best, and He knows when we hold our very best back.
Do you struggle with the gift you present to God? Do you worry that your offering may not be acceptable in His sight? We know the Father is perfect and awesome and holy. The gifts we choose to bring to the giver of life must be something that is sacrificial and priceless, something of great value. We want our offerings to be pleasing to Him. What can we possibly give to the one who gives us life?
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, became the sacrificial lamb for our sin. He laid down His life, and He bled and died to save us from our sin. It was His sacrifice that brings us into eternal relationship with God. If the Lord, the giver of life, can lay it all down for you, can you not give Him your life in return? Don’t delay. Give Jesus your heart.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Pray for: willingness to give your heart to the Lord. Lay yourself down on His altar and allow Him to purify you, body, mind and soul. Will you give your heart away to the One who gave His life for you?
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
