NE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 40 -Leviticus 21-22 (Is What I’m Offering Acceptable to God?)
“Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable on your behalf. And whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering from the cattle or the sheep, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. Those that are blind or broken or maimed, or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the LORD. Either a bull or a lamb that has any limb too long or too short you may offer as a freewill offering, but for a vow it shall not be accepted. "You shall not offer to the LORD what is bruised or crushed, or torn or cut; nor shall you make any offering of them in your land.” (Leviticus 22:20-24)
After studying the Scripture reading for today, I had to ask myself whether or not my offerings to God were acceptable to Him or not. I think that that is a vald question to ask and one that bears a significant importance to any worshipper of the true God like myself. If God did not accept animals sacrificed and offered to Him that had defects, how does that principle apply to Christians in our own worship of God?
One clue offered in the Bible is found in the book of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. In the first chapter of Malachi, God files His complaint against the priests who refused to give Him the honor and glory He deserved by offering sacrifices that were blemished and defiled. The in verse 8, God paints their unacceptable worship in a way that they (and we today) could understand:
“And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he accept you favorably?"
Says the LORD of hosts.”
(Malachi 1:8)
Ouch! I don’t know about you but that rebuke by God to the corrupt priests hits close to home for me. I know that I have been guilty at times of offering God things or certain acts of service that if I had offered the same to the governor of New Jersey would probably be tossed into the waste basket.
Let’s be honest, you and I have probably received gifts ourselves wherein after looking at it either tossed it out or put it away for re-gifting (which would make us even worse than the person who gave us the thoughtless gift). Now perhaps, we can relate a little better with how God feels and thiniks about the thoughtless gifts of people who think that they are offering God something that He would accept on their behalf.
Next time you and I offer something to God, let us do ourselves a big favor and first ask: Is what I’m offering to God acceptable to Him?
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