Leviticus, chapter 1

Previously, God's grace has enabled me to share from the books of Genesis and Exodus. Today, we are starting a new journey together in the book of Leviticus. Father God, thank you that as seen in Psalm 62:11, You have spoken and twice have I heard that power belongs to God and to You belongs mercy as well. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven as You draw our hearts closer to Your heart in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Leviticus 1:3 (NKJV)

3. "If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD.

   
   

Amen, thank you LORD.

This chapter speaks of the burnt offering that was offered by the children of Israel as required by the law given to them by God through Moses. In Genesis 26:4, the LORD God told Abraham, our father of faith that He would bless him and give him multiple descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. These descendants included both Jews and Gentiles. Now, Abraham believed God contrary to the facts of his old age and his wife's barren womb and this was accounted to him as righteousness (Romans 4:19-22). Many years later, Abraham's Jewish descendants through his child Isaac, happen to be in bondage in a foreign land called Egypt. Thankfully, God delivered them from the land of captivity and Pharaoh's slavery by a man called Moses. As they journeyed through the wilderness, God desired to dwell among His children. But there was an issue, God is holy and in order for Him to dwell in the midst of His people, He introduced the law through Moses. The law was given as a guard to keep us for the faith that would later be revealed through faith in Jesus (Galatians 3:23). The law contained ordinances that children of Israel had to follow in order to be made right before God.

Chapter 1 covers the law of the burnt offering where a male without blemish would be presented to the priests as an offering before the tabernacle of meeting. At the same time, we see that it was important to God that the burnt offering given was based on a person's free will as highlighted in the above lead Scripture.

I believe this requirement of free will was God's way of engaging the hearts of the people to His heart despite the do's and don'ts of the law. Thankfully, in Christ, we have a new covenant that is also established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6) for in Jesus is the forgiveness of sins and redemption. In the Old Testament, an animal had to be provided as the burnt offering. In God's new covenant with us, Jesus, the Son of God is the holy Lamb of God that died a sinner's death on the cross and was raised from the dead by the power of God. 1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) tells us, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed." - Amen.

In this new covenant, Romans 8:2 reminds us that the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. As a result of the new birth, the life of God on the inside of every child of God flows like rivers of living water. This living water flows out of your heart (John 7:38) and mind because "...with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10).

Romans 12:1 (NKJV), "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." So in the Old Testament, where the people, came to present livestock to God through the priests (Leviticus 1:2) or goats and sheep (Leviticus 1:10) or pigeons as a burnt sacrifice (Leviticus 1:14). Today God says, your body is the living sacrifice that He wants you to willingly present as holy to Him because Christ the hope of glory lives on the inside of you (Colossians 1:27).

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) continues to speak of the importance of a transformed mind in the life of a believer. It reads, "And do not conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of their mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." When the Bible speaks of a renewed mind, it is speaking of renewing your heart with the Word of God because with a renewed heart comes a renewed mind leading to a renewed life that affects how you live your life as a born again child of God. As a result, what you believe with your heart as you read and meditate on the Word of God is what will flow through your mind. Ephesians 5:23-24 (NKJV), "and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

I'll end with this word found in Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

"The Spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: If you would like to receive Jesus and be born again into God's Kingdom, that is saved and have a personal relationship to know God as Your Father and you as His child by receiving His Son, Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, I invite you to receive salvation. Please say these words with me:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

GLORY TO GOD, You are now a new creation in Christ Jesus! In case you have not already, please prayerfully consider becoming a member of a church and get WATER BAPTIZED!