Sometimes it is hard for us to see that the God of the Old Testament is the same God that we serve today. However, if I have learned anything from studying the Old Testament, it is that God is. He has not changed.
I wanted us to read this passage to see the enormity of just the daily offerings the Israelites were to bring to the Tabernacle. The rest of this chapter covers the Sabbath offerings, monthly offerings, and the offerings that were to be brought during the three feasts each year. All of these offerings were in addition to the daily offerings. Obviously, sacrifices were a major part of their lives. But, what does sacrifice mean for us?
First of all, the sacrifices were fulfilled in Christ's shed blood on the cross. There is no longer a need for animals to be sacrificed for our sins. Jesus' blood covers all sin from now until forever. Secondly, the Israelites could not function without a priest. Jesus is our High Priest. He lives to make intercession for us. We cannot truly live without him. But, the most important thing I want us to learn from this passage is that sacrifice is expensive. The Israelites' daily, Sabbath, and monthly sacrifices would have cost them a lot of money. Jesus' sacrifice cost Him His life. What does your sacrifice cost you?
We should be willing to give of ourselves and our spirtual sacrifices. A spiritual sacrifice can be our bodies, money, matieral gifts, worship, praise, prayer, and/or a broken and contrite heart over sin. All of these are acceptable to God as our sacrifice.
King David says in Samuel 24:24,
"But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them."
Sacrifice is not sacrifice if it doesn't cost you something. Jesus gave His very life for you. What will you offer to him in return?
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