Reading
SAA Notes
Leviticus is a book that looks at the question: how may a person be clean before God? The burnt offering was wholly consumed on the altar. Nothing was eaten. The offering had to be without defect. All of this helps us understand the meaning and purpose of Jesus’ death.
SJA Notes
* Faithful God, thank You that even when we are faithless, You remain faithful.
“… A food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.”
Offerings with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
We read here the prescribed pattern for burnt offerings.
Paul works through this in Ephesians 2, where he says,
“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Here is the heavenly truth writ large!
While Moses was given the law of burnt offerings, we see that it is only a precursor, a pointer, to Jesus – Who gave Himself up for us!
His sacrifice was a fragrant offering.
So we can imitate Him, offering up ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12).
Through Jesus we can be sweet-smelling offerings to our God. This is a wonderful thing to remember, and to wrestle with.
How am I offering up myself today as Jesus did?
* Gracious Lord God,
Thank You for Your word that points us to Jesus from start to finish.
Please help us to imitate You in our lives, each day.
Please help us to be as Jesus to those around us, offering up ourselves to our neighbours, our friends and family, those we meet.
Thank You for Your love for us!
Amen.