Highlights In Today's Reading:
The first words that God spoke to Moses are: Speak unto the children of Israel (1:2). Can you imagine what He had to say to Moses? Find out for yourself how to approach God (Luke 11:1-13) and continue in fellowship with Him.
Leviticus reveals how Israel was to live as a holy nation in order to be in fellowship with God. It begins by explaining five kinds of sacrifices. The Sin Offering and the Trespass Offering — the last two recorded — were required to be offered first. They illustrate how their sins were forgiven. The sacrifices provided the way to be restored to fellowship with God when Israel sinned. But they also illustrate what Christ and His death on the cross means to us. A public Burnt Offering was also made each morning and evening for all Israel. A Burnt Offering could also be brought as a free will offering by one who felt the need of humbly coming before the Lord in deep gratitude for His mercy. But, most of all, it signified his consecration to God. The Burnt Offering could be a young bull, goat, or sheep. The very poor could bring a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (Lev. 1:14-17; Luke 2:24) which would be just as acceptable to God as the costly gift of his more prosperous neighbor.
Whatever was chosen for the offering was to be the best of its kind — a male without blemish (Lev. 1:3). It would be highly offensive to God for a worshiper to offer anything that was lame, blind, or imperfect. This offering was a type of our perfect Savior — the Lamb of God who was without blemish and without spot (I Pet. 1:19). But this offering was also designed to teach us that we, too, are to offer our best unto God — the best of our time, talents, and possession.
Some Christians think they should meet their personal desires first and then consider what they will give to God from what is left. This might agree with worldly economics, but it is spiritually unsound. No person is too poor to return 10% of their income to God. Christ commended the widow who gave her only two coins.
More detail concerning Christ is provided in the Book of Leviticus than in any other Book. This book is mentioned more than 80 times in the New Testament that we might know what Christ has done for us and expects from us in our conduct and worship to please Him. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (II Cor. 9:7).
Thought for Today:
Surrendering our will to the will of God always results in great blessings.
Christ Revealed:
Through the Meat (Meal, Grain) Offering which was made without leaven (symbolic of sin) (Lev. 2:11). Christ was without sin (Heb. 4:15).
Word Studies:
1:9 sweet savour =b> pleasing satisfaction; 2:1 meet offering =b> meal (flower or grain) offering 2:4 oblation =ffering, sacrifice; 3:9 hard by =ear.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for our Military worldwide • Radio Sri Lanka International Shortwave Broadcasts for the week sponsored by Jim & Jocelyn Madden (Radio Sri Lanka Broadcasts cover most of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, & Bhutan and parts of Pakistan Afghanistan, China, & Burma (Myanmar) • Government Official/s [listed on their birthday/s] and the state/s represented (statistics from The Original U.S. Congress Handbook): Sen. Mike Enzi (WY), Rep. Paul Gillmor (OH), and Rep. Tom Lantos (CA) • Country: Algeria (31.5 million) in North Africa • Major languages: Arabic and French • Opposition to the Gospel is intense • 95% Muslim; 3.02% non-Religious; .29% Christian; .01% Baha'i • Prayer Suggestion: Commit your fears to the Lord; He will give you peace and strength (Dan. 10:19).
Optional Reading: Mark 4
NOTE: Bible Pathway covers the Old Testament with devotional and commentary insights over a nine-month period, January through September. Each day during these months, an optional reading of one chapter a day from the New Testament will also be listed. The October, November, and December issues will provide a daily commentary on the New Testament readings. Thus, the reader goes through the New Testament twice each year using the Bible Pathway plan.
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:5-6