Offering Our Best
Today's Reading: Leviticus 22:17-33
Leviticus 22:29 (ESV) "And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted."
There's a difference between giving God my best and giving Him what's leftover. And I am guilty of giving my leftovers, particularly when it comes to my time.
For example, I like to work out in the mornings. Which is not a bad habit, but at times I've chosen to get up earlier and dedicate an hour to exercise only to rush into the rest of the day, barely spending a few minutes in God's Word. I check the box of "time with God," but a box checked isn't what God longs for. Time with God is not about a number of minutes; in some seasons what we have to offer may be just a few passing moments. But in this season of my life, more time with God is one way I show my love and affection for Him.
God doesn't just want the spare minutes of our time - He wants our best, including all of our hearts. And that is not a bad thing. In fact, when we look at the acceptable sacrifices in Leviticus today, we will find it's a very good thing.
It can appear like God is merely holding His people to a high standard, but He is actually making a way for His people to be with Him. As we've mentioned in previous teachings, God, because of His holiness, cannot be near sin, so sacrifices were the avenue He designed for Him to draw near. (Leviticus 22:31-33)
But the priests' best sacrifices would never be enough. The priests would fall short, intentionally and unintentionally. While the Israelites failed to offer their best sacrifices, God sent One.
One who was perfect, without spot or blemish. (Hebrews 9:14)
One who also made a way for us to be without spot or blemish before God. (Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14)
Jesus was the acceptable sacrifice that made us acceptable to God.
And offering our best to God is a response to the best He has offered us in Jesus.
This doesn't mean we get legalistic and try to earn our way to be right with God. It means we change our heart posture. Out of our love for who God is and what He has done, we have the opportunity to offer the best parts of our lives to Him.
When our motivation comes from a place of awe, wonder, love and affection, we are motivated to make sacrifices. Whether that's with our time, energy, money, schedule, thoughts, words or behavior. James 2:17 says faith without works is dead, so in response to the good news of the gospel, let us offer everything we have to God, who made a way for us to be in fellowship with Him.
Prayer: God, we praise You for sending your best in Jesus. You did not hold back in what You offered to us, and we don't want to hold back in what we offer You, Lord. Help us to offer You our best, not as a way to earn Your love or affection but as a way to express our love to You. In Jesus' name, amen.
More Moments About Leviticus 22:17-33
Why should we make sacrifices in our lives for God? Didn't Jesus already handle that on the cross?
In verses 31-33 of today's passage, God gives the Israelites reasons they should offer sacrifices:
Because of who He is ("I am the LORD").
Because of what He is ("holy").
Because of what He is doing right now ("I am the LORD who sanctifies you").
Because of what He has already done ("who brought you out of the land of Egypt").
While we don't have to find spotless lambs to put on an altar, we are still called to be living sacrifices. (Romans 12:1)
When we forget the why behind offering our lives to God, these verses in Leviticus 22 remind us why. Because He is God and we are not, we can lean on the fact He sees and knows all. Because He is holy, we can trust Him. Because He is working out our salvation, we can be sanctified, be more like Christ and live in abundance with Him.
Because we can remember what He has already done. Not just in our lives. He is always making a way for us to be with Him.
Major Moment: The quality of the offering mattered.
This was originally published as a teaching from The Hard and The Holy in the First 5 app.