Day 33

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The Mandatory Offerings

Scripture

February 2—Leviticus 4-7: Non-Sweet Savor Sacrifices

Observation

Chapter 4 is about the sin offering and the cost of sin. Chapter 5 is about the guilt offering and the consequences of sin. These final two types of sacrifices that God instituted for Israel were mandatory rather than voluntary, and served to restore the offerer to fellowship with God. The sin offering covered wrongs committed unintentionally by any member of the nation, and reminded the person of the cost of sin. The guilt offering provided for restoration of the offender to fellowship with God and repayment for any injury or property loss caused by the offense. And, Chapter 6 and 7 restate the five offerings--a review of the sacrifices.

Application

Write down the three “top priorities” in your life—three things you live for every day. Now draw a circle around the priority that ranks as number one. (Was it your family? Career? Investments? Health? Happiness?

Arranging your priorities in the order of their importance will help you determine both the destination of your life and the direction you must move in order to reach it. As you read today’s chapters you will find the words before the Lord and to the Lord repeated often. These two phrases make it clear that God was the focus of Israel’s sacrifices, not the offerer. Everything about the Israelites’ worship taught them that God was to occupy first place in their national and personal lives, regardless of the friends all around them.

The centrality of God in the life of the nation should serve as a reminder to you of the place God desires to have in your life as well. God will never be satisfied with second or third place in your priorities. Take another look at your list of top priorities. Is God number one? If not, why not rewrite the list, placing God in the first position. Only then will you be able to organize your life’s priorities as “to the Lord.”

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for the reading of your word today. We want you first in our lives and we want you always on our mind. We understand what is expected of us through reading and mediating on your word and that is if you are our focus we will operate according to your will. Thank you Lord in Jesus name, amen!

Stay Focus and Allow Jesus to Occupy First Place!










© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2019

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