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An Acceptable Offering
by Dinora Trujeque Ever wonder about those parts in the Bible where there's seemingly nothing to learn? Those long lists of people numbered by tribe, where we learn who did what? I read one of those in Numbers 7. The offerings given to God by the Jews are described tribe by tribe in a very detailed list. I asked myself, "Why would God want us to know all of this?" I discovered that God wants us to know what an acceptable offering looks like: The Jews offered freely, out of their love for God, and their offerings were very generous. Each tribe gave 3 vessels and 21 animals. That's 36 vessels and 252 animals in total! The vessels were no ordinary ones; they were valuable, made of gold and silver. The most important part is they were filled with fine flour mixed with oil or incense, as an offering to God. This tells us that the value of an offering does not reside only on the offering itself, but also in what surrounds it. The Jews didn't offer the flour and incense in ordinary vesselsthey put it in precious ones. They didn't offer empty vessels, which they could've done, but filled them with what pleased God. Both the offering and the vessel are important. How are we when compared to this? Are we offering to God in worthy, holy vessels? That is, is our offering to God rooted in a life of obedience, subject to His will? Do we give Him generously or just the bare minimum? Do we offer to God out of our great love for Him or by compulsion? Are we separating the offering from the offerer? --- "I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." I am a Christian. My passion is to know the Lord, and help others to understand His character and will. Read one of my blogs at: onetruthonegod.wordpress.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |