The Offering that Pleases God
It is a pleasing odour, an offering by fire to the Lord. (Ex. 29:18)
Ex. 29:18; Ex. 30:6-7; Rom. 12:1; Phil. 4:18b; Heb. 13:15-16; I Pet. 2:5
What Is God Saying?
Moses had been to Mt. Sinai and had received the Law. We come now to that part of the Exodus where, under God's guidance, the children of Israel needed specific legislation and organization to survive the long journey to freedom. They were as far from the promised land as ever. Having been delivered from Egypt's bondage and now enduring conditions that would be, for a long time, difficult at best, they must remain close to Jehovah and obedient to his commands. They must know that God is pleased when there is sincerity and loving devotion. At this time, it is not our intention or need to describe the purpose of the various offerings commanded by God. That subject is rich with meaning to all who see in Christ the fulfilment of prophecies in the Old Testament. These ritual sacrifices no longer bind us. However, the offering by the fire with its pleasing odour still has relevance, reminding us that by a life of prayer and service, we offer our whole selves to God.
How Does This Apply To Us?
And by offering our whole selves to God, we are saying, "Here is my present life, which has been made malleable through the fire of love for you, Lord, to make it a tool you can use." The seal of John Calvin has a pictorial representation of what takes place when we come to prayer, bringing an offering by fire with its pleasing odour to the Lord. It is a person’s hand holding in the upturned palm a burning heart, an offering by fire to the Lord.
Pray With Me
O God, you are pleased with a heart that burns with hatred for sin and glows with desire for righteousness. Let there be in all the offerings I bring to you a burning hatred for what you hate and love for what you love.
Keep me from going through empty formalities in worship. Help me turn from the mere display of religious correctness. Help me avoid the trap of habitual ritual without feeling or faith.
Help me remember him who lifts burdens and heals bodies, igniting hope in discouraged hearts. Help me choose costly involvement rather than comfortable detachment. Help me choose faith rather than listless doubt. Help me choose prayer rather than preoccupation. Help me choose the risk of failure that comes with loving over the guarantee of nothing that comes with indifference.
So I make an offering by fire to you, O Lord, even the fire of a believing and grateful heart. I want no part of a life that knows only the duty and misses the beauty of an offering made by love's fire to the loving God of all.
Through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Moving On In The Life Of Prayer
If we want a blessed prayer life, we must never think of coming to God in these quiet moments as a ritual or duty. Ritual has its place as a unifying factor when we worship together. But prayer, at its best, focuses on the beauty of God's love and not on a believer's duty to go through the motions. God finds a heart burning with faith and love far more pleasing. A prayer of faith blesses us and makes us a blessing, and gives us a vision of a meaningful life ahead of us and all around us.
